JP6906519B2 - Glass redraw system and method of forming thin glass using glass redraw system - Google Patents

Description

Cross-reference of related applications

This application claims the benefit of priority under Article 119 of the United States Code, Vol. 35, "Patent Act" of US Patent Provisional Application No. 62/260792 filed on November 30, 2015. , The whole of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The embodiments described herein generally relate to a glass redraw system and a method of forming a sheet glass using a glass redraw system.

The glass plate can be formed using various processes. For example, the glass plate can be formed by using a fusion down draw method, a slot down draw method, a float method, or the like. In addition, etching or grinding methods can be used to thin the glass plate to reduce the thickness of the glass plate. However, there is a need for alternative methods of forming thin glass.

In some embodiments, the glass redraw system has a furnace enclosure with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and outlet, a decay heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure, and between the furnace inlet and the decay heating unit. Includes a redraw furnace with a preheated area positioned in and an annealing area located between the furnace outlet and the decay heating unit. The glass redraw system is coupled to the furnace enclosure and extends to the furnace channel between the dampening heating unit and one of the preheating or annealing regions, and to the furnace channel between the dampening heating unit and one of the preheating or annealing regions. It further includes one or more heat change gates that suppress heat transfer along.

In some embodiments, the glass redraw system is configured to have a furnace enclosure with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and outlet, and to be coupled to the furnace enclosure to output heat to the furnace enclosure. Included with a redraw furnace having a dampening heating unit configured in The redraw path extends through the furnace channel. Further, the damping roller assembly includes one or more electric roller pairs of rollers extending downstream of the damping heating unit to the furnace channel in the transport direction, and one or more electric roller pairs of rollers are in the redraw path. Adjustable between the post-extension position along and the post-retraction position away from the redraw path, and one or more electric roller pairs of rollers to apply vertical tension to the preform glass plate. It can be engaged with the preform glass plate.

In yet some other embodiments, the method of attenuating the preform glass plate comprises the step of suspending the preform glass plate into a redraw furnace using a supply unit. The redraw furnace has a furnace housing having a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet, and a plurality of heatings structurally configured to output heat to the furnace housing by being coupled to the furnace housing. Includes units. This method uses multiple heating units to heat the preform glass plate so that at least a portion of the preform glass plate is heated to a softening temperature (or a temperature close to the softening temperature at which the glass may be drawn). With a step of heating and a damping roller assembly extending the first and second surfaces of the preform glass plate in the transport direction downstream of one or more damping heating units of the plurality of heating units. Engagement steps and one or more roller cylinders of the damping roller assembly so that the thickness of the preform glass plate is attenuated (ie, the sheet is pulled out) as the preform glass plate translates in the transport direction. It further includes the step of applying vertical tension to the preform glass plate by rotating it.

The above and additional features provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure will be more fully understood in light of the following detailed description in connection with the drawings.

The embodiments described in the drawings are exemplary and exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit this disclosure. The following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments can be understood when reading in connection with the drawings below, and similar structures are indicated by similar reference numbers.

Schematic cross-sectional view of a glass redraw system comprising a redraw furnace, a redraw drive system, and a recovery unit according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. Schematic of a preform glass plate according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. Schematic perspective view of the redraw furnace of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. Schematic of the redraw furnace of FIG. 1 comprising a first plurality of heating units according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. Schematic of the redraw system controller and a plurality of components of the glass redraw system communicatively coupled to the redraw system controller. Schematic partial cross-sectional view of the redraw furnace of FIG. 1 and two heat change gates coupled to the redraw furnace according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. Graph of an exemplary temperature gradient of the redraw furnace of FIG. 1 along a redraw path according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. Schematic of the glass hanger system of the redraw drive system of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. Schematic of the glass sandwiching base of the glass hanger system of FIG. 8 according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the redraw furnace of FIG. 1 comprising a plurality of roller assemblies of a redraw drive system according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein. FIG. 11 is a schematic top view of an exemplary roller assembly of the redraw furnace and redraw drive system of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments described herein. Schematic side sectional view of an exemplary roller assembly with pivotable rollers according to one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein.

The embodiments disclosed herein include a system and method of attenuating a preformed glass plate using a glass redraw system. In some embodiments, the glass redraw system is a redraw furnace having a furnace enclosure with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet, and a plurality of heating units may output heat to the furnace channel. Includes multiple heating units coupled to the furnace enclosure as possible. In some embodiments, the glass redraw system further includes a redraw path that extends through the furnace channel and extends between the furnace inlet and the recovery unit. In some embodiments, the redraw furnace further comprises a plurality of furnace regions including a damping region having one or more damping heating units. During operation, when multiple heating units output heat to the furnace channel, one or more decay heating units output heat at a higher temperature than the other heating units coupled to the furnace housing and follow the redraw path. Within a temperature range in which the crossing preform glass plate is heated to a softening temperature within the decaying region and, in some embodiments, the viscosity increases sufficiently to allow the preform glass plate to be reformed. It can be heated to a temperature, and the preform glass plate may have a temperature slightly lower than the softening temperature. The glass redraw system guides the preform glass plate by engaging with the glass supply system that suspends the preform glass plate into the furnace channel and the thickness of the preform glass plate to reduce the thickness of the preform glass plate. It further includes a plurality of roller assemblies positioned along the redraw path to pass through the furnace housing and apply vertical tension. Various systems and methods of attenuating preformed glass plates using a glass redraw system are described in more detail herein with particular reference to the corresponding drawings.

As used herein, the term "longitudinal" refers to the thickness direction from front to back of the glass redraw system, eg, the longitudinal direction is the first of the redraw furnaces described herein. And extends between the second surface walls and extends between the first and second surfaces of the preform glass plate as the preform glass plate crosses the redraw path (ie, in the +/- Y direction shown). .. The term "lateral" refers to the width of the glass redraw system from front to back, for example, the lateral extends between the first and second margins of the redraw furnace described herein. As the preform glass plate crosses the redraw path (ie, in the +/- X direction shown), it extends between the first and second edges of the preform glass plate, laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction. Is. The term "vertical" refers to the vertical direction of the glass redraw system (ie, in the +/- Z direction shown) and is lateral with respect to the lateral and longitudinal directions.

Referring here to FIG. 1, the glass redraw system 100 is shown to include a redraw furnace 200, a redraw drive system 300 including a supply unit 310 and a plurality of roller assemblies 330, and a recovery unit 400. The redraw path 102 extends through the redraw furnace 200, for example, through the furnace channel 216, and ends at the recovery unit 400. As used herein, "downstream" and "upstream" are comparative terms that indicate the relative positions of components along the redraw path 102. For example, if the first component is closer to the recovery unit 400 along the redraw path 102 than the second component, then the first component is "downstream" of the second component and the second. The component is "upstream" of the first component. During operation, the preform glass plate 110 may proceed in the transport direction 104 along the redraw path 102 through the redraw furnace 200, and the redraw furnace 200 heats the preform glass plate 110. Further, the redraw drive system 300 may engage the preform glass plate 110 to translate the glass from the preform glass plate 110 along the redraw path 102 between the furnace inlet 230 and the recovery unit 400. When the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it are heated by the redraw furnace, the thickness T and width W of the resulting glass plate (FIG. 2) are the tensile forces applied by the redraw drive system 300. May be changed by.

Referring here to FIG. 2, the preform glass plate 110 is a "Corning" Gorilla (registered) sold by any exemplary glass plate, such as soda lime glass, molten silica glass, Corning Inc., Corning, New York. (Trademark) Glass (eg, “Corning” code 2319), “Corning” EAGLE XG®, “Corning” Lotus® glass, and the like may be included. The preform glass plate 110 may be formed by using any glass manufacturing method, for example, a fusion draw method, a slot draw method, a down draw method, an up draw method, a float method, or the like. The preform glass plate 110 includes a first surface 112 opposite the second surface 114 and a first edge 116 opposite the second edge 118. The first and second surfaces 112, 114 extend between the first and second edges 116, 118 and, in some embodiments, are substantially flat, respectively. The preform glass plate 110 also includes a lateral center 115 positioned substantially intermediate between the first edge 116 and the second edge 118. The thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 may be measured in the longitudinal direction between the first surface 112 and the second surface 114, and the width W of the preform glass plate 110 is the first edge. It may be measured laterally between the 116 and the second edge 118. It should be understood that the preform glass plate 110 may have any glass composition and any size. Further, the preform glass plate 110 may be formed in a spool which may be fed out to introduce the preform glass plate 110 into the furnace channel 216 of the redraw furnace 200, as described below. Further, the preform glass plate 110 may be a laminated glass plate including two or more laminated glass layers.

In some embodiments, the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 is from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm before the glass is pulled out of the preform glass plate 110 to cross the redraw path 102. The glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 and crossing the redraw path has a thickness of about 10 μm to about 500 μm, for example, from about 10 μm to about 480 μm, from about 10 μm to about 460 μm, from about 10 μm to about 440 μm, about 10 μm. From about 420 μm, from about 10 μm to about 400 μm, from about 10 μm to about 380 μm, from about 10 μm to about 360 μm, from about 10 μm to about 340 μm, from about 10 μm to about 320 μm, from about 10 μm to about 300 μm, from about 10 μm. From about 280 μm, from about 10 μm to about 260 μm, from about 10 μm to about 240 μm, from about 10 μm to about 220 μm, from about 10 μm to about 200 μm, from about 10 μm to about 180 μm, from about 10 μm to about 160 μm, from about 10 μm to about Up to 140 μm, from about 10 μm to about 120 μm, from about 10 μm to about 100 μm, from about 10 μm to about 80 μm, from about 10 μm to about 60 μm, from about 10 μm to about 40 μm, from about 10 μm to about 20 μm, from about 20 μm to about 500 μm From about 40 μm to about 500 μm, from about 60 μm to about 500 μm, from about 80 μm to about 500 μm, from about 100 μm to about 500 μm, from about 120 μm to about 500 μm, from about 140 μm to about 500 μm, from about 160 μm to about 500 μm. From about 180 μm to about 500 μm, from about 200 μm to about 500 μm, from about 220 μm to about 500 μm, from about 240 μm to about 500 μm, from about 260 μm to about 500 μm, from about 280 μm to about 500 μm, from about 300 μm to about 500 μm, From about 320 μm to about 500 μm, from about 340 μm to about 500 μm, from about 360 μm to about 500 μm, from about 380 μm to about 500 μm, from about 400 μm to about 500 μm, from about 400 μm to about 500 μm, from about 420 μm to about 500 μm, about From 440 μm to about 500 μm, from about 460 μm to about 500 μm, from about 480 μm to about 500 μm, from about 20 μm to about 480 μm, from about 40 μm to about 460 μm, from about 60 μm to about 440 μm, from about 80 μm to about 420 μm, about 100 μm From about 400 μm, from about 120 μm to about 380 μm, from about 140 μm to about 360 μm, from about 160 μm to about 340 μm, from about 180 μm to about It may have up to 320 μm, from about 200 μm to about 300 μm, from about 220 μm to about 280 μm, from about 240 μm to about 260 μm, about 25 μm, 50 μm, 100 μm, 200 μm and the like. For example, the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 before the glass is drawn from the preform glass plate 110 to cross the redraw path 102 is the thickness T of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 and crosses the redraw path 102. It is about 5 to 15 times the size of T. Further, the width W of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 may be changed when the glass crosses the redraw path 102.

Referring here to FIGS. 1 and 3, the redraw furnace 200 has a first surface wall 222 facing a second surface wall 224 and a first edge wall 226 facing a second edge wall 228. It comprises a furnace housing 210 having a furnace channel 216 positioned between the first and second surface walls 222 and 224 and the first and second edge walls 226 and 228. In some embodiments, the furnace enclosure 210 has one or more insulating materials such as alumina-silica, silica, zirconia-based fiberboard, silica blocks, mullite blocks, quartz, glass ceramics with high softening temperatures, and the like. May be provided. The furnace housing 210 further includes a furnace inlet 230 positioned at the inlet end 212 of the redraw furnace 200 and a furnace outlet 232 positioned at the outlet end 214 of the redraw furnace 200. During operation, the furnace enclosure 210 may help maintain the control environment within the redraw furnace 200. For example, in some embodiments, the furnace enclosure 210 comprises a clean room and / or an inert gas atmosphere therein.

The redraw path 102 extends through the furnace channel 216 and ends at the recovery unit 400. During operation, the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it may travel through the redraw furnace 200 in the transport direction 104 along the redraw path 102. When the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it proceed through the furnace housing 210 along the redraw path 102, the glass from the first surface 112 of the preform glass plate 110 is the first surface wall. The glass from the second surface 114 may face the second surface wall 224, and the glass from the first edge 116 faces the first edge wall 226. The glass from the second edge 118 may face the second edge wall 228. The preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it are described as crossing the redraw path 102 in a particular orientation, but this does not have to be the case and the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it are drawn from it. It should be understood that the glass may have different orientations while crossing the redraw path 102.

As shown in FIG. 3, the redraw furnace 200 has a temporary furnace inlet cover 234 and a temporary furnace outlet, respectively, which are removable and engageable with the furnace housing 210 to cover the furnace inlet 230 and the furnace outlet 232, respectively. A cover 236 may also be provided. During operation, the temporary furnace inlet cover 234 and the temporary furnace outlet cover 236 may be engaged with the furnace housing 210 during the preheating process, for example, before the preform glass plate 110 is introduced into the furnace channel 216. After the preheating process, the temporary furnace inlet cover 234 may be removed so that the supply unit 310 can engage the redraw furnace 200 at the furnace inlet 230 to introduce the preform glass plate 110 into the furnace channel 216. When the supply unit 310 engages the redraw furnace 200, the temporary furnace outlet cover 236 may be removed and the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it cross the redraw path 102 and through the furnace outlet 232. The furnace channel 216 may be exited.

Referring here to FIGS. 1 and 4, the redraw furnace 200 includes a plurality of furnace regions 240, such as a staging region 242, a preheating region 244, a damping region 246, and an annealing region 248. In some embodiments, one or more heating units 250a, 250b may be coupled to parts of the furnace enclosure 210 within the preheating region 244, damping region 246, and annealing region 248. For example, one or more heating units are a first plurality of heating units 250a coupled to a first surface wall 222 and vertically spaced along the first surface wall 222, and a second surface wall. A plurality of second heating units 250b coupled to the 224 and vertically spaced along the second surface wall 224 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the individual heating units (252a, 245a, 256a, 258a, 260a, 262a, 264a) of the first plurality of heating units 250a and the individual heating units 250b of the second plurality of heating units 250b. The heating units (252b, 254b, 256b, 258b, 260b, 262b, 264b) may be positioned in a common vertical position along the first and second surface walls 222 and 224, respectively, and face each other. May be good. The first and second plurality of heating units 250a and 250b are structurally configured so as to output heat to the furnace channel 216, respectively. A plurality of first and second heatings during operation when the preform glass plate 110 is positioned within the furnace channel 216 and when the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 crosses the redraw path 102. The heat output by the units 250a and 250b changes the temperature of the preform glass plate 110 and the temperature of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 in order to facilitate the attenuation of the thickness T of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110. You may.

The glass redraw system 100 may further include a redraw system controller 150, as schematically shown in FIG. The redraw system controller 150 may include any exemplary computing device and receives information to store machine-readable instructions, such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard drive, or machine-readable instructions. One including any processing unit configured to execute machine-readable instructions from one or more memory modules 156 with any device capable of being accessible to one or more processors 152. The above processor 152 may be provided. Each of the one or more processors 152 may be a control device, an integrated circuit, a microchip, a computer, or any other computing device.

Further, one or more processors 152 and one or more memory modules 156 are coupled to the communication path 154. As used herein, the term "communicatively coupled" means that the combined components send data signals to each other, eg, electrical signals through conductive media, and electromagnetic signals through air. , Means that optical signals can be exchanged via optical waveguides and the like. Therefore, the communication path 154 may be formed from any medium capable of transmitting a signal, for example, a conducting wire, a conductive thin wire, an optical waveguide, or the like. In some embodiments, the communication path 154 may facilitate the transmission of radio signals such as WiFi, Bluetooth® and the like. Further, the communication path 154 may be formed from a combination of media capable of transmitting a signal.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the redraw system controller 150 includes each of the first and second heating units 250a, 250b, and the redraw furnace 200 includes a supply unit 310 and a plurality of roller assemblies 330. , The redraw drive system 300 and the recovery unit 400 may be communicatively coupled, and signals may be transmitted and received to each, for example, along a communication path 154. Further, the redraw system controller 150 receives a signal based on instructions stored in one or more memory modules 156 and / or received by the redraw system controller 150, eg, one or more users. It may be provided in response to user input received by an input device 158, eg, a tactile or audible input device. For example, the redraw system controller 150 sends a communication signal to control the amount of heat output by each of the plurality of heating units 250a and 250b in order to control the temperature in the furnace channel 216, for example. It may be provided to the first and second plurality of heating units 250a and 250b.

For ease of understanding, the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b and the furnace region 240 are further described below with respect to the first plurality of heating units 250a positioned along the first surface wall 222. This will be described in detail. The description of each individual heating unit of the plurality of first heating units 250a is, for example, positioned in a common vertical position as each individual heating unit of the plurality of first heating units 250a as shown in FIG. It should be understood that it applies to the corresponding individual heating units of the second plurality of heating units 250b.

Referring again to FIG. 4, each heating unit of the first plurality of heating units 250a further comprises a plurality of heating elements 250a'positioned laterally adjacent along the respective heating units. During operation, each heating element 250a'of the first plurality of heating units 250a is configured to output heat at a controllable and variable temperature in response to, for example, a signal received from the redraw system controller 150. May be done. In some embodiments, the heating elements 250a'of the individual heating units may output heat uniformly, and in some embodiments, each heating element 250a' of each heating unit 250a is a preform glass. The lengths of the preform glass plate 110 (FIG. 2) and the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 as the plate 110 and the glass drawn from it cross the redraw path 102. The heat may be variably output so that the portions adjacent in the direction are heated to different temperatures at individual positions between the first edge 116 and the second edge 118. Further, the heating element 250a'may include any exemplary heating device, such as a resistance heater, such as a molybdenum disilicate heater, an induction heater or a combination thereof.

Referring here to FIGS. 1 and 4, the staging region 242 may be positioned in the vicinity of the furnace inlet 230 between the furnace inlet 230 and the preheating region 244. In the staging region 242, the furnace enclosure 210 may be provided with insulation and, in some embodiments, may not include any heating unit. During operation, the staging region 242 holds the preform glass plate 110 before the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it cross the preheat region 244, the damping region 246, and the annealing region 248 along the redraw path 102. Provide a place. In an alternative embodiment, the redraw furnace 200 does not include a staging area 242.

The preheating region 244 is adjacent to the damping region 246 and upstream of the damping region 246 so that the preheated glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from the preheating region 244 cross the redraw path 102 from the preheating region 244 to the damping region 246 in the transport direction 104. It may be positioned between the staging area 242 and the damping area 246. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the preheating region 244 includes a first preheating unit 252a positioned vertically adjacent to the second preheating unit 254a. Although two preheating units 252a and 254a are shown along the first surface wall 222, the preheating region 244 may include any number of preheating units. Further, the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a each include one or more heating elements 252a ′, 254a ″, 252a ″, 254a ″, 252a ″ ″, 254a ″ ″. For example, the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a are located between the first edge heating element 252a', 254a' and the second edge heating element 252a''', 254a'', respectively. It comprises a positioned central heating element 252a'', 254a''. Although three heating elements are shown in each of the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a, each preheating unit 252a and 254a may include any number of heating elements.

During operation, the first preheating unit 252a may output heat at a temperature lower than that of the second preheating unit 254a, but any heat output is intended. In some embodiments, the first preheating unit 252a may be configured to output heat from about 600 ° C. to about 700 ° C., such as about 625 ° C., 650 ° C., 675 ° C. When the reformed glass plate 110 is positioned in the redraw path 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the first preheating unit 252a, it is adjacent to the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preformed glass plate 110 in the longitudinal direction. The portion is adapted to have temperatures from about 400 ° C. to about 500 ° C., for example, about 425 ° C., 450 ° C., 475 ° C., and the like. Further, each heating element 252a'-252a "" of the first preheating unit 252a may output heat at a uniform temperature or different temperatures. For example, in some embodiments, the central heating element 252a'' of the first preheating unit 252a is the first and second edge heating elements 252a', 252a'''of the first preheating unit 252a, respectively. The heat may be output at a temperature higher than that. However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are intended.

During operation, the second preheating unit 254a may be configured to output heat from about 800 ° C. to about 900 ° C., for example, about 825 ° C., 850 ° C., 875 ° C., and the preform glass plate 110. Adjacent to the second preheating unit 254a in the longitudinal direction in the redraw path 102, adjacent to the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110 (FIG. 2) in the longitudinal direction. The portion is adapted to have temperatures from about 600 ° C. to about 700 ° C., for example, about 625 ° C., 650 ° C., 675 ° C. Further, each heating element 254a'-254a "" of the second preheating unit 254a may output heat at a uniform temperature or different temperatures. For example, in some embodiments, the central heating element 254a'' of the first preheating unit 254a is each of the first and second edge heating elements 254a', 254a''' of the second preheating unit 254a. The heat may be output at a temperature higher than that. However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are intended.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the damping region 246 is positioned upstream of the annealing region 248 and adjacent to the annealing region between the preheating region 244 and the annealing region 248, and the preform glass plate 110. The glass drawn from the glass may cross the redraw path 102 from the damping region 246 to the annealing region 248 in the transport direction 104. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the damping region 246 includes a damping heating unit 256a including five damping heating elements 256a "-256a" "". For example, the damping heating unit 256a includes a first intermediate damping heating element 256a'' positioned between a central damping heating element 256a''' and a first edge damping heating element 256a', and a central damping heating element 256a''. Includes a second intermediate damping heating element 256a'''' positioned between the body 256a'''' and the second edge damping heating element 256a''''.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary damping region 246 with a single damping heating unit 256a with five damping heating elements 256a'-256a''''', but the damping region 246 is in any number of lateral directions. It should be understood that any number of vertically adjacent damping heating units 256a may be provided, each of which may include adjacent damping heating elements. Further, in some embodiments, the damping heating unit 256a is from about 1 inch (2.54 cm) to 12 inch (about 30.48 cm), for example, 2 inch (5.08 cm), 4 inch (10.16 cm), 6 inch ( It has a vertical height of 15.24 cm), 8 inch (20.32 cm), 10 inch (25.40 cm), etc., which is the vertical height of each of the preheating units 252a and 254a and the annealing heating unit 258a-264a described below. It may be less than each of.

In some embodiments, the damping heating unit 256a may output heat at a temperature higher than both the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a, but any heat output is intended. In some embodiments, the dampening heating unit 256a may output heat from 1300 ° C. to about 1700 ° C., for example at about 1400 ° C., 1500 ° C., 1600 ° C., and is drawn from the preform glass plate 110. Adjacent to the longitudinal direction of the glass drawn from the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110 when the glass is positioned in the redraw path 102 longitudinally adjacent to the dampening heating unit 256a. The portion to be heated is provided with a temperature from about 900 ° C. to about 1300 ° C., for example, about 1000 ° C., 1100 ° C., 1200 ° C., and the like. Further, each heating element 256a "-256a" "" of the damping heating unit 256a may output heat at a uniform temperature or a different temperature. For example, in one embodiment, the central damping heating element 256a'''' is larger than the first and second edge damping heating elements 256a', 256a'''''' and the first and second intermediate damping. Heat may be output at a temperature higher than each of the heating elements 256a'' and 256a''''. However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are intended.

During operation, the damping heating unit 256a heats each part of the preform glass plate 110 positioned within the damping region 246 to a softening temperature, and in some embodiments, a temperature range in which the viscosity of the preform glass plate increases. Heated to the inside, these temperatures may be less than the softening temperature. At the softening temperature or at a viscous temperature below the softening temperature, the preform glass plate 110 is viscous, and as described below, the tensile force applied by the redraw drive system 300 is the preform glass plate. A thickness T of 110 can be attenuated. Further, the softening temperature of the preform glass plate 110 may be lower than the glass gob forming temperature of the preform glass plate 110, and may be lower than the temperature at which the preform glass plate 110 starts to become a glass gob, for example. It should be understood that different embodiments of the preform glass plate 110 may have different softening temperatures. For example, the thickness and composition of the preform glass plate 110 may change the softening temperature of the preform glass plate 110.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the annealing region 248 is positioned upstream of the furnace outlet 232 and adjacent to the furnace outlet 232 between the damping region 246 and the furnace outlet 232 and is a preform glass plate 110. The glass drawn from the furnace may cross the redraw path 102 from the annealing region 248 to the furnace outlet 232 in the transport direction 104. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the annealing region 248 includes a plurality of annealing heating units, for example, four annealing heating units 258a, 260a, 262a, 264a. The first annealing heating unit 258a is positioned adjacent to the damping region 246 and perpendicular to the downstream side of the damping region 246, and the second annealing heating unit 260a is adjacent to the first annealing heating unit 258a and Positioned vertically downstream of the first annealing heating unit 258a, the third annealing heating unit 262a is adjacent to the second annealing heating unit 260a and perpendicular to the downstream side of the second annealing heating unit 260a. Positioned, the fourth annealing heating unit 264a is positioned adjacent to the third annealing heating unit 262a and perpendicular to the downstream side of the third annealing heating unit 262a. Although four annealing heating units are shown, it should be understood that any number of annealing heating units are intended.

Further, each annealing heating unit may include a plurality of annealing heating elements. For example, each annealing heating unit 258a-264a is placed between each first edge annealing heating element 258a'-264a'and each second edge annealing heating element 258a'''-264a'''. A positioned central annealing heating element 258a ″ -264a'' may be provided. Although three annealing heating elements are shown on each of the annealing heating units 258a-264a, it should be understood that each annealing heating unit 258a-264a may include any number of annealing heating elements. Further, each annealing heating element of each annealing heating unit 258a-264a may output heat at a uniform temperature or different temperatures. For example, in some embodiments, the central annealing heating elements 258a''-264a'' of each annealing heating unit 258a-264a are each of the first edge annealing heating elements 258a'-264a' and each annealing heating unit. The heat may be output at a temperature higher than the temperature of the heat output by each of the second edge annealing heating elements 258a'''-264a''' of 258a-264a. However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are intended.

The first annealing heating unit 258a may output heat at a higher temperature than each subsequent downstream annealing heating unit (eg, second, third and fourth annealing heating units 260a-264a). The glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 can be annealed as the glass crosses the redraw path 102. For example, the first annealing heating unit 258a may be configured to output heat from about 1000 ° C. to about 1300 ° C., for example, about 1050 ° C., 1150 ° C., 1250 ° C., and the preform glass plate 110. When the glass drawn from the glass is positioned in the redraw path 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the first annealing heating unit 258a, in the longitudinal direction of the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110. The glass drawn from the adjacent portion may be provided with temperatures from about 750 ° C. to about 950 ° C., for example, about 800 ° C., 862 ° C., 900 ° C.

The second annealing heating unit 260a may output heat at a higher temperature than each subsequent downstream annealing heating unit (eg, third and fourth annealing heating units 262a-264a). For example, the second annealing heating unit 260a may be configured to output heat from about 900 ° C. to about 1200 ° C., for example, about 975 ° C., 1022 ° C., 1100 ° C., and the preform glass plate 110. When the glass drawn from the glass is positioned in the redraw path 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the second annealing heating unit 260a, in the longitudinal direction of the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110. The glass drawn from the adjacent portion may be provided with temperatures from about 650 ° C to about 850 ° C, for example, about 700 ° C, 722 ° C, 800 ° C.

The third annealing heating unit 262a may output heat at a higher temperature than each subsequent downstream annealing heating unit (for example, the fourth annealing heating unit 264a). For example, the third annealing heating unit 262a may be configured to output heat from about 800 ° C. to about 1100 ° C., for example, about 850 ° C., 935 ° C., 1000 ° C., and the preform glass plate 110. When the glass drawn from the glass is positioned in the redraw path 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the third annealing heating unit 262a, in the longitudinal direction of the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110. The glass drawn from the adjacent portion may be provided with temperatures from about 550 ° C to about 750 ° C, for example, about 600 ° C, 635 ° C, 650 ° C, 700 ° C.

In some embodiments, the fourth annealing heating unit 264a outputs heat from about 700 ° C. to about 1000 ° C., such as about 750 ° C., 800 ° C., 845 ° C., 900 ° C., 950 ° C. It may be configured, and when the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is positioned in the redraw path 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the fourth annealing heating unit 264a, the first and the preform glass plate 110 The glass drawn from the longitudinally adjacent portions of the second surfaces 112, 114 may be provided with temperatures from about 450 ° C. to about 650 ° C., such as about 500 ° C., 545 ° C., 600 ° C. It has become. Further, in some embodiments, the temperature in the furnace channel 216 at the furnace outlet 232 may be from about 125 ° C to about 325 ° C, such as about 150 ° C, 200 ° C, 300 ° C and the like.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the glass redraw system 100 is coupled to, for example, one or more of a first surface wall 222, a second surface wall 224, a first edge wall 226, and a second edge wall 228. And / or may include one or more thermal spreaders 130 positioned within the furnace enclosure 210 coupled to one or more of the plurality of heating units 250. The one or more thermal spreaders 130 may comprise a block of high thermal conductive material, such as silicon carbide, copper or platinum, which functions to uniformly disperse heat in a glass redraw system. The individual heat spreaders 130 may be positioned through the redraw furnace 200, for example, in the preheating region 244, the damping region 246, and / or the annealing region 248. During operation, each heat spreader 130 may uniformly disperse the heat output by the plurality of heating units 250 along the heat spreader 130, for example, along the surface of the heat spreader 130 facing the furnace channel 216. .. When the individual heat spreaders 130 are positioned adjacent to the individual heating units, the heat spreaders 130 uniformly heat along the heating units to control the temperature gradient in both the lateral and vertical directions. It may be dispersed. Further, during operation, the one or more heat spreaders 130 have uniform temperatures at individual locations within the furnace channels 216 adjacent to the respective heating units and heating elements of the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b. May be maintained. Some alternative embodiments of the glass redraw system 100 may not include one or more thermal spreaders 130.

In some embodiments, the width of the one or more thermal spreaders 130 is at least as wide as the drawn glass plate made from the preform glass plate 110. That is, during operation, the heat spreader 130 functions to evenly distribute heat over the width of the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it, whereby the drawn sheet is spread over its width. Thickness uniformity and uniform stress profile are given. Uniform heat distribution is particularly advantageous in the damping region 246, where thickness variation and stress are incorporated into the glass plate as it travels through the viscoelastic region. Also, in some embodiments, the height of one or more thermal spreaders 130 also favorably affects the thickness uniformity and low stress profile of the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it. It is advantageous to adapt (dimension in the z direction) to the height of the damping region 246.

Referring here to FIGS. 1 and 6, the glass redraw system 100 further comprises one or more heat change gates 120a, 120b coupled to the furnace housing 210 and extending to the furnace channel 216. The heat change gates 120a and 120b were coupled to the first gate portions 122a and 122b coupled to the first surface wall 222 of the furnace housing 210 and the second surface wall 224 of the furnace housing 210. The second gate portions 124a and 124b are provided. In some embodiments, one or more heat change gates 120a, 120b are slidably coupled to the furnace enclosure, with first and second gate portions 122a, 122b and 124a, 124b, respectively, eg, for example. , It is possible to move in the longitudinal direction between the position 126 after evacuation and the position 128 after extension. At the extended position 128, the first and second gates 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b are positioned within the furnace channel 216 and terminate longitudinally adjacent to the redraw path 102. At position 126 after evacuation, the first and second gates 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b are removed from the furnace channel 216 and retracted towards, for example, the first and second surface walls 222 and 224, respectively. And, in some embodiments, it is retracted to the first and second surface walls 222 and 224. It should be understood that the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b and 124a, 124b may also be positioned between the retracted position 126 and the extended position 128. Further, in some embodiments, the one or more thermal change gates 120a, 120b may be fixedly coupled to the furnace enclosure 210, with the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b It extends to the furnace channel 216 and ends longitudinally adjacent to the redraw path 102.

During operation, the heat change gates 120a, 120b may change the heat transfer in the vertical direction via the furnace channel 216. When the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b are positioned within the furnace channel 216, eg, at the extended position 128, the heat change gate 120 transfers heat through the heat change gate 120. May be restricted in the vertical direction. It is contemplated that the one or more heat change gates 120a, b may be constructed of any material suitable for providing insulation between the furnace regions 240. For example, it is contemplated that one or more thermal modification gates 120a, 120b may be constructed of metal or refractory, eg, Haynes 230 ™ hot material sold by Haynes International in Kokomo, Indiana. In some embodiments, the material at the preform glass plate 110 or the portion of the heat change gate facing the glass drawn from it reduces the thickness variation and / or stress scarring of the glass plate. It may be a good thermal conductor. In some embodiments, the heat change gates 120a, b are designed to limit heat transfer in the vertical direction (eg, z direction) to assist in providing good heat control, especially in the damping region 246. As long as it works, it need not be adjustable (ie, slidable or otherwise movable between the extended position and the retracted position).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, one or more heat change gates 120a, 120b include an upstream side heat change gate 121 and a downstream side heat change gate 120b. The upstream heat change gate 120a may be positioned between the preheating region 244 and the damping region 246, for example, between the second preheating units 254a and 254b and the damping heating units 256a and 256b. The downstream heat change gate 120b may be positioned between the annealing region 248 and the damping region 246, for example, between the damping heating units 256a and 256b and the first annealing heating units 258a and 258b. It should be understood that any number of heat change gates 120a, b are intended.

During operation, the upstream heat change gate 120a may control and suppress heat transfer between the preheating region 244 and the damping region 246, while the downstream heat changing gate 120b transfers heat transfer between the annealing region 248 and the damping region 248. It may be controlled with 246. When the upstream and downstream heat change gates 120a, 120b are positioned within the furnace channel 216, eg, at position 128 after extension, the redraw path 102 and the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b. The gap in the furnace channel 216 between each of the two is suppressed to limit heat transfer in the furnace channel 216 between the preheating region 244 and one or both of the annealing region 248 and the damping region 246. Become. By controlling the heat transfer, the heat change gates 120a, 120b have a steep temperature gradient between the preheating region 244 and the damping region 246 and a steep temperature gradient between the annealing region 248 and the damping region 246. make it easier.

During operation, a steep temperature gradient causes a uniform attenuation of the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 through the attenuation region 246 as the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it cross the redraw path 102. Can be easy. Further, thermal change gates 120a, 120b are required to achieve the desired temperature within the damping region 246 by limiting the heat escape between the damping region 246 and both the preheating region 244 and the annealing region 248. The amount of power generated can be reduced. Further, the combination of one or more thermal spreaders 130 and the upstream and downstream thermal change gates 120a, 120b positioned within the decay region 246 is such that the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it are in the decay region. As it crosses 246, it may produce a narrow decay region 246 with uniform and controlled heat radiating onto the preform glass plate 110 and the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the glass drawn from it.

Referring here to FIG. 7, an exemplary vertical temperature gradient 500 of the redraw furnace 200 along the redraw path 102 is shown graphically. In particular, FIG. 7 schematically shows the estimated heating unit temperature 502 of each of the heating units 250a and 250b (for example, heating units 252a-264a) along the redraw path 102, and shows the preform glass plate along the redraw path 102. And / or the estimated temperature 504 of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate is shown schematically. As shown in FIG. 7, the temperature of the redraw furnace 200 increases along the redraw path 102 from the preheating region 244 to the decay region 246 and then decreases 102 along the redraw path through the annealing region 248. Sometimes. Further, FIG. 7 shows the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a along the redraw path 102, the damping heating unit 256a, the first, second, third, and fourth annealing heating units 258a-264a, upstream. The locations of the side and downstream heat change gates 120a, 120b are shown schematically.

In some embodiments, it is advantageous that the preform glass plate 110 has a narrow band (in transport direction 104) that is heated to a viscous state in the damping region 246. This narrow band provides strong but short heat in the thickness direction (T) from the thickness of the preform glass plate 110 to the desired thickness for the glass plate drawn from the preform glass plate 110. May be produced by promoting spikes. That is, it is easier to control the narrow damping region 246 to have uniform heat distribution so that there is low thickness variation in the drawn glass plate. The heat distribution in the decay region 246 controls the heating elements of the damping heating units 256a and 256b, controls the heat distribution using the heat spreader 130, and controls the convective flow in the furnace channel 216. How many, including (eg, by the use of gas extraction tube 280 (see FIG. 3) and by the use of an adiabatic gate containing a heat change gate 120 to control the flow of fluid through the furnace channel 216) It may be controlled by that element.

Further, in the narrow damping region, undesired damping is reduced in the width direction (W) of the drawn glass plate formed from the preform glass plate 110. If the damping region is too large in the z direction, the glass plate will take too much time in a viscous state, which may undesirably cause out-of-plane shape or warpage. At a location upstream of the damping region 246, i.e., in the preheating region 244, the preform glass plate 110 is moderately heated to promote maximum relaxation in the glass plate before entering the damping region 246. That is, if the stress on the preform glass plate 110 is still too high when the preform glass plate 110 enters the higher temperature decay region 246, a thermal shock may unfavorably occur on the preform glass plate 110. .. In addition, the glass plate can pass through the viscous / viscoelastic state, enter the elastic state and then cool more rapidly, reducing the possibility of thermal shock, unwanted stress profiles, heat marks and the like. Therefore, on the downstream side of the decay region, the temperature gradient may drop somewhat quickly, but remains uniform over the entire width (W) of the glass plate.

Referring here to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the supply unit 310 of the redraw drive system 300 introduces the preform glass plate 110 into the redraw furnace 200 and suspends the preform glass plate 110 into the furnace channel. , The preform glass plate 110 is configured to translate along at least a portion of the redraw path 102. As shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the supply unit 310 includes a glass holding base 322, a hanger drive system 328, and a glass holding base 322 and a hanger that can engage the preform glass plate 110. The glass hanger system 312 includes one or more hanging shafts 314a and 314b coupled to the drive system 328 and extending between the glass holding base 322 and the hanger drive system 328. The glass hanger system 312 further comprises a hanger cover 320 that is removable and engageable with the inlet end 212 of the furnace housing 210 to seal the furnace inlet 230. In another embodiment, the supply unit 310 connects the preform glass plate 110 to the redraw furnace 200 and the redraw path 102, such as when the alternative supply unit 310, eg, the preform glass plate, is in the form of a roll. It may be provided with a roll supply device configured to output to.

In some embodiments, one or more hanging shafts 314a and 314b of the glass hanger system 312 have a first hanging shaft 314a and a first hanging shaft 314a having a first shaft end 316 and a second shaft end 318, respectively. A second hanging shaft 314b is provided. The first and second suspension shafts 314a and 314b are respectively coupled to the hanger drive system 328 at the first shaft end 316 and to the glass holding base 322 at the second shaft end 318. In some embodiments, the suspension shaft 314 is coupled to the hanger drive system 328 using a universal joint 360. As shown in FIG. 8, one or more suspension shafts 314 extend through the hanger cover 320, and when the hanger cover 320 is coupled to the furnace housing 210, the first shaft end. The 316 ends outside the furnace housing 210, and the second shaft end 318 ends inside the furnace housing 210. The hanger cover 320 includes a cover portion 372, a locking mechanism 374, and a donut gasket comprising one or more gaskets 376, such as a deformable elastic material, such as silicone. One or more gaskets 376 may seal the furnace inlet 230 of the furnace housing 210 with respect to the hanger cover 320 when the hanger cover 320 is engaged with the furnace housing 210.

As shown in FIG. 9, the glass holding base 322 includes a base housing 323, a hanger handle 326 detachably coupled to the base housing 323, and a glass clamp 324 coupled to the hanger handle 326. The base housing 323 may include any insulating material, such as alumina-silica, silica, zirconia-based fiber boards, and the like. The glass clamp 324 includes a clamp mechanism, eg, a rubber strip clamp containing silicone or other polymer. For example, the glass clamp 324 may use a high temperature resistant silicone material as a nose material. The glass clamp 324 is removable and engageable with the preform glass plate 110 and may hold the preform glass plate 110 when the preform glass plate 110 is suspended in the furnace channel 216. Further, the hanger handle 326 may include an actuating mechanism configured to actuate the glass clamp 324 to engage and disengage the preform glass plate 110. Further, the base housing 323 may be coupled to the second shaft end 318 of the first and second suspension shafts 314a and 314b.

The hanger handle 326 and the glass clamp 324 are removable from the base housing 323, even if the glass clamp 324 engages the preform glass plate 110 before the glass hanger system 312 engages the furnace housing 210. It's getting better. The hanger handle 326 and the glass clamp 324 holding the preform glass plate 110 may be coupled to the 323 housing base, the hanger cover 320 for introducing the preform glass plate 110 into the furnace channel 216 of the redraw furnace 200. It may be engaged with the furnace inlet 230 of the furnace housing 210. Further, the hanger handle 326 and the base housing 323 may insulate the glass clamp 324 when the glass clamp base 322 is positioned within the furnace channel 216 to keep the glass clamp 324 below about 250 ° C.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 8, the hanger drive system 328 may include a screw jack system (eg, ball screw, etc., and may be ball screw guided or slide guided, screw driven linear motion. A system), a belt drive system which may be a ball guide type, a slide guide type, or a wheel guide type, a belt drive system having a servomotor, a rack pinion system, and the like may be provided. Further, in some embodiments, the preform glass plate may be driven into the redraw furnace 200 using a set of edge rollers. During operation, the hanger drive system 328 may translate the suspension shafts 314a, 314b and the glass holding base 322 along a portion of the redraw path 102, for example, in the transport direction 104 or in the reverse direction 106. For example, the hanger drive system 328 may translate the suspension shaft 314 along a portion of the redraw path 102 from the furnace inlet 230, on the upstream side of the damping region 246, for example, upstream of the upstream heat change gate 120a. It may stop at a side location, upstream of the positioning roller assembly 330a (FIG. 10), or at another location within the staging region 242 or preheating region 244.

As shown in FIG. 8, the glass hanger system 312 is also coupled to the first shaft end 316 and / or the second shaft end 318 of each of the one or more hanging shafts 314a, 314b. One or more load cells 362a, 362b may be provided. For example, the first load cell 362a may be positioned between the first suspension shaft 314a and the hanger drive system 328, and the second load cell 362b may be the second suspension shaft 314b and the hanger drive system 328. It may be positioned between and. During operation, the first and second load cells 362a, 362b are applied to the first and second suspension shafts 314a, 314b, respectively, when the glass hanger system 312 holds the preform glass plate 110, for example. The tension applied may be measured. During operation, the load cells 362a, 362b are such that when the preform glass plate 110 crosses the redraw path 102, for example, one or more roller assemblies 330 of the redraw drive system 300 (FIG. 10), as described below. FIG. 10) may measure the tension applied to the preform glass plate 110 when the tension is applied to the preform glass plate 110. Further, one or more load cells 362a, 362b may be communicatively coupled to the redraw system controller 150 (FIG. 5), and the tension measured by the load cells 362a, 362b is one of the redraw system controller 150. It may be analyzed by the above processors 152 and one or more memory modules 156.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 10, and 11, the redraw drive system 300 is positioned at different vertical positions along the redraw path 102, eg, a plurality of roller assemblies 330a-330d. , A positioning roller assembly 330a, a first damping roller assembly 330b, a second damping roller assembly 330c, and a recovery roller assembly 330d. As shown in FIG. 11, each roller assembly 330a-330d has a first pair of rollers 332a and a second pair extending from a vertically common location along the redraw path 102 toward the redraw path 102. A pair of rollers 332b is included, and the redraw path 102 is positioned between them. For example, in some embodiments, the first pair of rollers 332a may extend through the first edge wall 226 of the furnace enclosure 210, and the second pair of rollers 332b may extend through the first edge wall 226 of the furnace enclosure 210. It may extend through the second edge wall 228 of 210. (For example, the positioning roller assembly 330a and the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c extend through the second edge wall 228 of the furnace housing 210 as shown in FIG. May be good).

During operation, the roller assemblies 330a-330d provide mechanical operation of the preform glass plate 110 and the glass plate drawn from it. In order to maintain the advantage of good thermal control, it is advantageous to have good mechanical operation of the preform glass plate 110 and the glass plate drawn from it when crossing the glass redraw system 100 and the redraw path 102. That is, when the preform glass plate 110 and the glass plate drawn from the preform glass plate meander in the glass redraw system 100, for example, in the furnace channel 216 due to a mechanical operation failure, they meander and various in the system. When approaching a heating element or moving away from various heating elements, it becomes susceptible to uneven heating. However, if the glass plate is stably transported through the glass redraw system 100 for effective mechanical operation, it will undergo the desired heat adjustment and the heat adjustment will be maintained as desired. It will be. In this regard, in some embodiments, it is desirable to position the positioning roller assembly 330a directly above the damping region. When the positioning roller assembly 330a is located directly above the damping region, the preform glass plate 110 may advantageously be located near the center of the system shortly before undergoing damping. In addition, the rollers of the positioning roller assembly 330a act as heat sinks and thus maintain physical dimensional control (ie, necking of the preform glass plate in the width direction before reaching the desired position to be damped. May be reduced, which results in increased draw repeatability). In some embodiments, the roller assemblies 330b and / or 330c may be placed directly below the damping region to similarly control the position of the glass plate in the damping region.

As shown in FIG. 11, the first and second pair of rollers 332a and 332b includes a first roller 334 and a second roller 336, respectively. The first and second rollers 334 and 336 each include a roller shaft 338 having a first end and a second end, and a roller cylinder 340 coupled to the roller shaft 338 at the second end. Be prepared. In some embodiments, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are electric. In these electric embodiments, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 further include a roller drive system 350 coupled to the first end of the roller shaft 338. A single roller drive system 350 is shown in FIG. 11 to engage the first and second rollers 334, 336 of each pair of rollers 332a, 332b, but in other embodiments, each pair of rollers 332a. Each of the first and second rollers 334, 336 of 332b may include an individual roller drive system 350.

Each roller drive system 350 may include any motor configured to provide rotational drive to the roller shaft 338 to rotate the roller shaft 338 and the roller cylinder 340. The roller drive system 350 may also be communicatively coupled to the redraw system control device 150 (FIG. 5), which may output a control signal to the roller drive system 350. In addition, the roller drive system 350 may operate in speed mode or torque mode. In the speed mode, the roller drive system 350 outputs a speed drive force to the roller shaft 338 in order to rotate the roller shaft 338 at a constant speed. In the torque mode, the roller drive system 350 outputs a torque driving force to the roller shaft 338 in order to rotate the roller shaft 338 with a constant torque. In yet another embodiment, the roller drive system 350 may instead output a speed drive force or a torque drive force, the speed of the speed drive force and the torque of the torque drive force, for example, the redraw system controller 150. It may be adjustable based on the control signal from and / or the user input received by the user input device 158 of the redraw system control device 150 (FIG. 5).

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b may be positioned along the redraw path 102 and of the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b. Each of the roller cylinders 340 has a first and second surface of the preform glass plate 110 when the preform glass plate 110 is positioned longitudinally adjacent to the first and second pairs of rollers 332a, 332b. It is designed so that it may come into contact with 112 and 114. For example, each roller cylinder 340 in the first pair of rollers 332a is located between the first edge 116 and the lateral center 115 on the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110. Each roller cylinder 340 in the second pair of rollers 332b may be in contact with one of the first and second preform glass plates 110 between the second edge 118 and the lateral center 115. It may come into contact with one of the surfaces 112 and 114.

Further, the first and second pairs of first and second rollers 334, 336 of the rollers 332a and 332b are adjustable between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337, respectively. At the extended position 335, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are positioned at the edges of the redraw path 102, and the roller cylinders 340 of the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are preform glass plates 110. Is in contact with the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110 when it is longitudinally adjacent to the roller cylinder 340. At the retracted position 337, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are removed from the edges of the redraw path 102, and the roller cylinders 340 of the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are preform glass plates 110. Is positioned in the redraw path 102 longitudinally adjacent to the roller cylinder 340 so as not to come into contact with the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110. Further, the roller cylinder 340 has a roller cylinder 340 between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337 from about 1 inch (2.54 cm) to about 20 inch (50.8 cm), for example, 4 inch (10.16 cm), 6 inch. (20.32 cm), 8 inch (20.32 cm), 10 inch (25.40 cm), 12 inch (30.48 cm), 15 inch (38.1 cm), 18 inch (45.72 cm) and the like may be adjusted.

The first and second rollers 334 and 336 may be located in one of the lateral and longitudinal directions so as to translate the first and second rollers 332 and 334 between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337. Both may be adjustable. For example, when the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are laterally adjustable (FIG. 10), the first and second rollers 334 and 336 have the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337. It may move in the +/- x direction so as to move laterally between the two. Also, due to lateral adjustability, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 can engage the preform glass plate 110 with various widths W. Further, when the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are longitudinally adjustable (FIG. 11), the first and second rollers 334 and 336 have the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337. It may move in the +/- Y direction so as to move in the longitudinal direction between the two. Also, due to longitudinal adjustability, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 can engage preform glass plates 110 with varying thicknesses T.

It was previously mentioned that the first and second rollers 334 and 336 interact with the preform glass plate 110, which would be true for any roller in the staging area 242 and the preheating area 244. Similarly, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 may also engage the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 such that it will fit in the annealing region 248. That is, the preform glass plate 110 is introduced into the damping region 246 through the staging region 242 and the preheating region 244 (as by the supply unit 310). In the damping region 246, the preform glass plate 110 has a thickness T damped by the interaction between the supply unit 310 and the first damping roller assembly 330b, producing glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110. Will be done. After that, the width W of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is also attenuated between the first damping roller assembly 300b and the second damping roller assembly 330c.

Referring here to FIG. 12, in some embodiments, both some or all of the first and second rollers 334, 336 of the plurality of roller assemblies 330 may be pivotable. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 may pivot around the roller joint 339 in the vertically upstream and vertically downstream directions. For example, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 have an angle of −α with respect to the lateral (X) axis in the vertical downstream direction and the lateral (X) axis in the vertical upstream direction. It may be pivoted around the roller joint 339 up to an angle of + α. In some embodiments, the roller fitting 339 may be positioned within the roller drive system 350, which exerts a tilt drive force to pivot the first and second rollers 334, 336. It may be output. When the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are pivoted to an angle of +/- α, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 exert a tensile force on the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from it. It may be applied in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

For example, when the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are positioned at a −α angle, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 have the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from it. A tensile force may be applied to widen the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 while attenuating the glass. On the other hand, the pair of first and second rollers 334 and 336 of the rollers 332a and 332b correspond to the positions of the other pair of first and second rollers 334 and 336 of the rollers 332b and 332a in the Z-axis direction. It may be positioned in the + α angle direction to adjust the balance with. Further, in some embodiments, the first and second rollers may be pivoted around the roller joint 339, eg, longitudinally away from the edge of the redraw path 102, such first. And the second roller 334, 336 may pivot between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 10 and 11 again, the positioning roller assembly 330a may extend laterally to the furnace channel 216 in a vertical position upstream of the damping heating units 256a and 256b. For example, the first pair of rollers 332a of the positioning roller assembly 330a may extend through the first edge wall 226, and the second pair of rollers 332b of the positioning roller assembly 330a may extend through the first edge wall 226. It may extend through the edge wall 228. As shown in FIG. 10, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the positioning roller assembly 330a are located in the preheating region 244, for example, between the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a. It may be positioned vertically. The first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the positioning roller assembly 330a are rotationally non-driven (ie, with the movement of the preform glass plate 110 when the preform glass plate 110 is moved by the redraw drive system 300). It may be idling for rotation) and must not be coupled to the roller drive system 350. During operation, the positioning roller assembly 330a engages the preform glass plate 110 to allow the preform glass plate 110 to be equidistant from the first and second surface walls 222 and 224 of the furnace housing 210 to the furnace channel 216. Configured to guide to a longitudinal position within, the heat is equal to both the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110 as the preform glass plate 110 crosses the redraw path 102. It may be applied.

Further, as the preform glass plate 110 crosses the redraw path 102 through the preheating region 244, the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110 are the first of both pairs of rollers 332a, 332b. And the second rollers 334 and 336 may come into contact with the longitudinally positioned roller assembly 330a, and both pairs of the first and second rollers 334, 336 of the rollers 332a and 332b are in extended positions. It is adjustable between 335 and the position 337 after retracting. During operation, both pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the positioning roller assembly 330a are positioned at the retracted position 337 before the preform glass plate 110 is longitudinally adjacent to the positioning roller assembly 330a and the preform glass. When the plate 110 is longitudinally adjacent to the positioning roller assembly 330a to engage the preform glass plate 110, it may be actuated to position 335 after extension.

Still referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the first damping roller assembly 330b is laterally directed to the furnace channel 216 of the furnace enclosure 210 at a vertical position downstream of the damping heating units 256a and 256b of the redraw furnace 200. It may be extended. For example, the first pair of rollers 332a of the first damping roller assembly 330b may extend through the first edge wall 226, and the second pair of rollers 332b of the first damping roller assembly 330b may extend. The pair may extend through the second edge wall 228. As shown in FIG. 10, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the first damping roller assembly 330b are perpendicular to the damping heating unit 256a and the first annealing heating unit 258a. It may be positioned at. The first damping roller assembly 330b is electric and one or more configured to be coupled to the roller shaft 338 to rotate the roller shaft 338 and the roller cylinder 340 of the first damping roller assembly 330b. The roller drive system 350 is provided. Further, the one or more roller drive systems 350 may selectively rotate the roller shaft 338 and the roller cylinder 340 of the first damping roller assembly 330b in a speed control mode or a torque control mode. Further, the first pair of rollers 332a may rotate at a different rotational speed than the second pair of rollers 332b, and the first pair of rollers 332a has a different tensile force than the second pair of rollers 332b. Is to be applied.

During operation, each roller cylinder 340 of the first damping roller assembly 330b has a tangential velocity of the roller cylinder 340 at the point of contact between the roller cylinder 340 and the preform glass plate 110 (or glass drawn from it). And may rotate such that the translational motion of the preform glass plate 110 in the transport direction 104 may be substantially the same or different. In some embodiments, the tangential velocity of each roller cylinder 340 is about 5 to about 5 times the translational velocity of the preform glass plate 110 (eg, the translational velocity of the glass holding base 322 holding the preform glass plate 110). Up to 15 times faster, for example, about 8 times faster, 10 times faster, 12 times faster, and so on. During operation, the roller cylinder 340 may apply a tensile force to the preform glass plate 110 when the tangential speed of the roller cylinder 340 is faster than the translational motion of the preform glass plate 110 in the transport direction 104. Further, the first damping roller assembly 330b is positioned downstream of the damping region 246, and the segment of the preform glass plate 110 in contact with the first damping roller assembly 330b is the first damping roller assembly 330b. The tensile force applied by the preform glass plate 110 may be provided with a temperature higher than the softening temperature or the viscous temperature of the preform glass plate 110 so as to attenuate the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110.

As shown in FIG. 10, even if the second damping roller assembly 330c extends laterally to the furnace channel 216 of the furnace housing 210 at a vertical position on the downstream side of the first damping roller assembly 330b. good. As one non-limiting example, the second damping roller assembly 330c may be positioned vertically between the first and second annealing heating units 258a and 260a. Further, the second damping roller assembly 330c may include substantially the same components and may operate substantially the same as the first damping roller assembly 330b. Further, in some embodiments, the redraw drive system 300 does not include a second damping roller assembly 330c, and in other embodiments, the redraw drive system 300 includes, for example, a second damping roller assembly 330c and a furnace. An additional damping roller assembly positioned with outlet 232 is provided.

The first and second pairs of rollers 332a, 332b of both the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c are adjustable between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337. May be good. During operation, when the preform glass plate 110 crosses the redraw path 102, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c are the preform glass plate 110. They may be positioned within position 337 after retracting, respectively, before being positioned vertically adjacent to the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c, respectively, to engage the preform glass plate 110. When the preform glass plate 110 is vertically adjacent to the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b and 330c, respectively, they may operate to the extended position 335. During operation, when the preform glass plate 110 is engaged with the recovery roller assembly 330d, the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c operate and return to their retracted positions 337, the first and second. Contact between the second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c and the preform glass plate 110 and / or the glass drawn from it is removed. Further, in some embodiments, the positioning roller assembly 330a, the first damping roller assembly 330b, and the roller cylinder 340 of the second damping roller assembly 330c are refractories, such as Nichias SD-115 ™. ) (Manufactured by Nichias Corporation of Tokyo, Japan), high temperature ceramic material, metal, mica, etc. may be provided, and the roller cylinder 340 can withstand the temperature inside the furnace housing 210 without deformation or melting. ing.

Still referring to FIG. 10, the recovery roller assembly 330d may be located outside the furnace housing 210 at a vertical position below the furnace outlet 232 of the furnace housing 210, with the furnace outlet 232 and the recovery unit 400. It may be positioned between. In some embodiments, the recovery roller assembly 330d may be coupled to the furnace enclosure 210 at the outlet end 214 using, for example, a carriage, bracket, or the like. The recovery roller assembly 330d may be electric and may be coupled to a roller shaft 338 to rotate one or more roller drive systems configured to rotate the roller shaft 338 and the roller cylinder 340 of the recovery roller assembly 330d. 350 may be provided. One or more roller drive systems 350 of the recovery roller assembly 330d may selectively rotate in speed control mode or torque control mode. Further, the first pair of rollers 332a may rotate at a different rotational speed than the second pair of rollers 332b, and the first pair of rollers 332a has a different tensile force than the second pair of rollers 332b. Is to be applied. Further, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the recovery roller assembly 330d engage the preform glass plate 110 to apply a tensile force to the preform glass plate 110 in speed mode or torque mode. You may. In some embodiments, the assertive force exerted on the preform glass plate 110 comes from, for example, the recovery roller assembly 330d when the first and second roller assemblies 300b, 300c are at positions 337 after retracting, respectively. You may. In this configuration, when a tension that attenuates the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 is applied in the recovery roller assembly 330d, the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 has a tension of the first damping roller assembly. It may have less warpage than when applied only with the 330b and / or the second damping roller assembly 330c, i.e. it may be flatter.

During operation, each roller cylinder 340 of the recovery roller assembly 330d is preformed in the tangential velocity and transport direction 104 of the roller cylinder 340 at the point of contact between the roller cylinder 340 and the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110. The glass plate 110 may be rotated so that the translational motion may be substantially the same or different. When the tangential speed of the roller cylinder 340 is faster than the translational motion of the preform glass plate 110 in the transport direction 104, the roller cylinder 340 is the preform glass plate 110 having a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the preform glass plate 110. A tensile force may be applied to the preform glass plate 110 to dampen the thickness T of the portion. In some embodiments, each roller cylinder 340 of the recovery roller assembly 330d may rotate faster or slower than the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c. In another embodiment, each roller cylinder 340 of the recovery roller assembly 330d may rotate at about the same speed as each roller cylinder 340 of the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c.

In some embodiments, the roller cylinder 340 of the recovery roller assembly 330d touches the glass when it is at a much lower temperature than when it is in the decay region, and thus a polymeric material such as rubber, silicone, etc. It may include Viton ™ (fluorocarbon elastomer), fluorosilicone, etc., and the roller cylinder 340 of the recovery roller assembly 330d is low to prevent the formation of glass cracks in the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110. The nip force engages with the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110. Further, the recovery roller assembly 330d may guide the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 toward the recovery unit 400.

With reference to FIG. 1 again, the recovery unit 400 may include a recovery spool 410 and a cutting device 420. The redraw path 102 ends at the recovery unit 400, and the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 may be recovered by the recovery unit 400 after exiting the redraw furnace 200 and passing through the recovery roller assembly 330d. For example, the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 may be recovered by winding it around the recovery spool 410. During operation, the recovery spool 410 is rotatable about its axis, such rotation winding the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 around the recovery spool 410 and / or redrawing the drawn glass. It may help pull out from the furnace 200. In some embodiments, the recovery spool 410 comprises a substantially cylindrical body in which glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 may be wound. Further, the diameter of the recovery spool 410 may be configured based on the bending radius of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110. For example, the thinner the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110, the smaller the bending radius than the glass drawn from the thicker preform glass plate 110 may be provided. Therefore, the thicker the glass plate, the larger the diameter of the recovery spool 410 may be desired for the recovery, and the thinner the glass plate, the smaller the diameter of the recovery spool 410 may be desired for the recovery. The cylindrical body has a circular cross-sectional shape. In other embodiments, the cross section of the recovery spool 410 may have a triangular, rectangular, oval, or other suitable polygonal, or non-polygonal shape.

The cutting device 420 may include a score wheel, a scribing tip, a cutting disc, a laser, a torch, a fluid jet, a bending device, another suitable cutting device, or a combination thereof. During operation, when the glass plate exits the redraw furnace 200 with a necking thickness, the cutting device 420 may cut the glass plate. That is, at the end of the flow, the preform glass plate 110 is pulled by the roller assembly 330 while the roller assembly 330 no longer has sufficient material left to produce a drawn glass plate of the desired thickness. When continuing, the drawn glass plate will typically reach a point where it begins to decay and deform in both the thickness and width directions. For example, the glass plate is necked to a necking thickness less than the desired thickness. At this point, the preform glass plate 110 can no longer produce the desired drawn glass plate, and the process is carried out to the drawn glass plate having the desired thickness, i.e. the necking thickness. It ends by cutting the reached portion of the glass plate from the rest of the glass plate. When the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is cut, the final portion of the drawn glass plate is wound onto the recovery spool 410 and the rest of the preform glass plate 110 is still a glass hanger. Since it is engaged with the system 312, it may be removed from the redraw furnace 200 and detached from the glass hanger system 312. Then, when a new preform glass plate 110 is loaded into the glass hanger system 312, the process may be started again from the beginning.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-12, in the glass redraw system 100, when the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 reaches the recovery unit 400, the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 has a thickness of less than about 100 μm. May be used to dampen the preform glass plate 110 so that it may be provided. Although multiple steps are described below, the glass redraw system 100 uses only some of the steps described below, or uses additional steps not described below to preform glass plates. It should be understood that it may be used to attenuate 110. In addition, the steps are described in a particular order, but other orders are also intended. First, the redraw furnace 200 may preheat to raise the temperature in the furnace channel 216. While the redraw furnace 200 is being preheated, the temporary furnace inlet cover 234 may be engaged with the furnace housing 210 to cover the furnace inlet 230, and the temporary furnace outlet cover 236 may be engaged with the furnace housing 210 to cover the furnace. May cover outlet 232. Next, part or all of the roller assembly 330, for example, the positioning roller assembly 330a, the first and second damping roller assemblies 300b, 300c, and the recovery roller assembly 330d are directed into the retracted position 337. It may be operated.

In addition, the glass hanger system 312 may manually or automatically engage the preform glass plate 110. For example, the hanger handle 326 and the glass clamp 324 may be removed from the base housing 323, and the glass clamp 324 may be clamped on the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110, the hanger handle. The hanger handle 326 may be coupled to the base housing 323 such that the 326, glass clamp 324 and preform glass plate 110 are engaged with the glass hanger system 312. Next, the preform glass plate 110 may be suspended in the furnace housing 210. For example, the temporary furnace inlet cover 234 may be removed from the furnace inlet 230, the base housing 323 and preform glass plate 110 may be inserted into the furnace channel 216, and the hanger cover 320 may be inserted into the inlet end of the furnace housing 210. It may be coupled to 212 to seal the furnace inlet 230. When the inlet end 212 of the furnace housing 210 is sealed, the temporary furnace outlet cover 236 may be removed.

The glass hanger system 312 may then use the hanger drive system 328 to translate the preform glass plate 110 in the transport direction 104 along the redraw path 102. When the preform glass plate 110 is adjacent to the positioning roller assembly 330a in the longitudinal direction, the positioning roller assembly 330a is operated from the retracted position 337 toward the extended position 335 to operate the positioning roller assembly 330a. The roller cylinder 340 of 330a may engage the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110. Further, when the preform glass plate 110 is adjacent to the first damping roller assembly 330b in the longitudinal direction, the first damping roller assembly 330b is directed from the retracted position 337 to the extended position 335. When actuated, the roller cylinder 340 of the first damping roller assembly 330b may engage the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110.

When the first damping roller assembly 330b is engaged with the preform glass plate 110, the glass hanger system 312 may stop translating the preform glass plate 110 and the first damping roller assembly. The first and second pairs of rollers of 330b are rotationally actuated by one or more roller drive systems 350 to apply vertical tension to the preform glass plate 110 to dampen the preform glass plate 110. The glass drawn from the reformed glass plate 110 may be translated along the redraw path 102. When the glass hanger system 312 stops translating the preform glass plate 110, the heat applied to the preform glass plate 110 by the plurality of heating units 250 and the preform glass plate by the first damping roller assembly 330b. The attenuation of the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 generated by the combination of tensions applied to 110 translates the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it in the transport direction 104 along the redraw path 102. I may continue.

In some embodiments, the first damping roller assembly 330b is in torque mode upon initial contact with the preform glass plate 110 so that the vertical tension applied to the preform glass plate 110 may be incrementally increased. May work with. Further, the first damping roller assembly 330b engages the preform glass plate 110 in the furnace channel 216, which may limit the discarded portion of the preform glass plate 110. That is, in a typical glass redraw system, the first traction roller is located at the exit of the system. Therefore, at the beginning of the flow, the preform glass plate is heated at the exit of the system until the ingot travels the entire distance of the glass redraw system, until the ingot finally engages the traction roller The glass block can be pulled in a controlled manner to produce the desired thickness of the drawn glass plate. In this case, a considerable amount of material is melted from the preform glass plate by the time a glass plate having a desired thickness can be produced.

On the other hand, in the current glass redraw system 100, the first damping roller assembly 330b and / or the second damping roller assembly 330c is used at a much earlier point in time, eg, in the furnace channel 216 to a glass block It can be engaged, resulting in less material waste from the preform glass plate 110 before the drawn glass plate of the desired thickness is produced. For example, the first damping roller assembly 330b is provided such that the discarded portion of the preform glass plate may contain less than 20%, for example, less than 15%, less than 10%, less than 5%, etc. It may engage with the reformed glass plate 110. Further, in the embodiment including the second damping roller assembly 330c, when the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is vertically adjacent to the second damping roller assembly 330c, the second By operating the damping roller assembly 330c from the retracted position 337 to the extended position 335, the roller cylinder 340 of the second damping roller assembly 330c is pulled out from the preform glass plate 110 of the first and first glass. It may engage the surfaces 112, 114 of 2.

Next, when the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is vertically adjacent to the recovery roller assembly 330d, the recovery roller assembly 330d is operated toward the extended position 335. The roller cylinder 340 of the recovery roller assembly 330d may engage the preform glass plate 110 or the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the glass drawn from it. The recovery roller assembly 330d may then be rotated to apply vertical tension and tensile force to the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from it. In some embodiments, the recovery roller assembly 330d may operate in velocity mode to apply a constant tensile force to the preform glass plate 110 to attenuate the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110. .. After the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 reaches the recovery unit 400, the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is collected by the recovery unit 400 and wound around, for example, a recovery spool 410. .. The glass drawn from the preform glass plate is cut using, for example, the cutting device 420 of the recovery unit 400 when the desired length of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is achieved.

The roller assembly 330ad may be used in a variety of ways to tension the preform glass plate 110 and thus pull the preform glass plate 110 to the desired thickness resulting. For example, the positioning roller assembly 330a, previously described as being used as an idle positioning device, may include driven rolls in some embodiments. Further, for example, driving the roller assembly 330ad, at least one operates in constant velocity mode to control the thickness of the resulting glass plate drawn from the preform glass plate 110. On the other hand, other roller assemblies may be allowed to be driven in torque mode. For example, the first damping roller assembly 330b can operate in torque mode, the second damping roller assembly 330c can operate in torque mode, and the recovery roller assembly 330d can operate in speed mode. Can operate. In another embodiment, the first damping roller assembly 330b can operate in torque mode, the second damping roller assembly 330c can operate in speed mode, and the recovery roller assembly 330d , Can operate in torque mode. In another embodiment, the first damping roller assembly 330b can operate in speed mode, the second damping roller assembly 330c can operate in torque mode, and the recovery roller assembly 330d , Can operate in torque mode.

In other embodiments, the first and second damping roller assemblies 330b, 330c may be the only roller assemblies that engage the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it. In these embodiments, the torque setting and horizontal tension (as due to the tilt of the roll angle α) are adjusted by the roller assemblies 330b, 330c to control the ribbon shape in the damping region 246 to achieve ribbon stress reduction. The result is ribbon flattening and process stability. In some modifications of these embodiments, the recovery roller assembly 330d may also be used in constant velocity mode to control thickness and increase process stability.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the glass redraw system 100 further includes a plurality of sensing devices, such as a thermometer 140, a thermocouple 142, a glass thickness measuring gauge 144, and a thermal line scanner 148. Be prepared. Each of the plurality of sensing devices communicates with the redraw system controller 150 along the communication path 154 to send a sensor signal for sensor measurement to the redraw system controller 150 and receive the control signal from the redraw system controller 150. May be done. During operation, sensor signals received from one or more sensing devices may be stored in one or more memory modules 156 of the redraw system controller 150 and may be stored in the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b. (Eg heat output), compared to signals received from the redraw drive system 300, eg, the first and second load cells 362a, 362b (eg, tension applied to the preform glass plate 110) of the glass hanger system 312. I have something to do. Based on this comparison, the redraw system controller 150 determines the various operating functions of the glass redraw system 100, such as the rotational speed and / or torque of the plurality of roller assemblies 330a-330d, the translational speed of the glass hanger system 312, the glass. The alignment of the hanger system 312 and the temperature output by the first and second plurality of heating units 250a and 250b may be changed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of thermocouples 142 are positioned within the furnace housing 210, eg, first and second surface walls 222, 224 and first and second edge walls 226. May be bound to 228. Further, the thermocouple 142 may be coupled to the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b or positioned adjacent to the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b. be. In some embodiments, the plurality of thermocouples 142 may include a thermocontrolled thermocouple 142a and / or a process controlled thermocouple 142b (FIG. 5). Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, one or more thermocouples 142 include, for example, a glass containing a glass clamp 324 (FIG. 9) when the glass clamp 324 (FIG. 9) comprises silicone. It may be coupled to the base housing 323 of the glass hanger system 312 to monitor the temperature of the hanger system 312.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 5, the thermocontrolled thermocouple 142a measures the temperature of individual heating units and / or individual heating elements. For example, the thermocontrolled thermocouple 142a is adjacent to the individual heating units of the first and second heating units 250a, 250b at a common vertical position along the first and second surface walls 222 and 224, respectively. May be positioned. Further, the process control thermocouple 142b may be positioned in the furnace housing 210 and may measure the air temperature in the furnace channel 216. During operation, the furnace between the preform glass plate 110 and the first and second surface walls 222, 224, for example, when the preform glass plate 110 is positioned in the furnace channel 216 across the redraw path 102. The air temperature in channel 216 may be measured by a process controlled thermocouple 142b. The air temperature in the furnace channel 216 provides information about the longitudinal position of the preform glass plate 110 in the furnace channel 216 to the redraw system controller 150 (FIG. 5). Further, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, the glass redraw system 100 may further include one or more alarm devices 147 communicatively coupled to the thermocouple 142 and the redraw system control device 150. The one or more alarm devices 147 may include any audible or visual alarm device, for example, when the thermocouple 142 measures a temperature above the threshold temperature in the furnace channel 216, for example, the furnace channel 216 has a threshold. It is configured to activate and output an alarm signal to alert the user to the fact that the temperature has been exceeded.

For example, when the heating units 250a and 250b adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction output heat at the same temperature, the air temperature between the first surface wall 222 and the first surface 112 of the preform glass plate 110 is the second. If the temperature between the surface wall 224 and the second surface 114 of the preform glass plate 110 is the same, the redraw system controller 150 will have the preform glass plate 110 longitudinally centered on the furnace channel 216. It may be determined that it is. Further, when these temperatures are different, the redraw system controller 150 is such that the preform glass plate 110 is longitudinally off-center, eg, first and second than the other of the first and second surface walls 222 and 224. It may be determined that it is close to one of the second surface walls 222 and 224. Based on this feedback, the redraw system controller 150 repositions, for example, the glass hanger system 312 and / or the appropriate pair of rollers 332a, 332b of the plurality of roller assemblies 330a-330d. By doing so, the position of the preform glass plate 110 in the furnace channel 216 may be changed.

Referring here to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pyrometer 140 measures the temperature of the preform glass plate 110 or the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 along the redraw path 102. It is configured to measure in a vertical position. During operation, the pyrometer 140 irradiates electromagnetic radiation onto the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 and receives a return signal to measure the temperature of the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 or the glass. It may be judged based on the noise level of the return signal. In some embodiments, the pyrometer 140 is configured to output 7.8 μm wavelength electromagnetic radiation, which is an exemplary glass plate having a thickness T ranging from about 25 μm to about 200 μm. May be used to measure the temperature of the. Further, the pyrometer 140 may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation at other wavelengths intended, such as wavelengths from about 5 μm to about 15 μm.

In some embodiments, the pyrometer 140 may extend through the first and second surface walls 222 and 224 of the furnace enclosure 210. In another embodiment, the furnace housing 210 has a first surface wall 222, a second, so that one or more pyrometers 140 may output electromagnetic radiation to the furnace channel 216 through a plurality of optical slots. There may be a plurality of optical slots extending through one or more of the surface wall 224, the first edge wall 226 and the second edge wall 228.

During operation, the pyrometer 140 is a glass plate 110 or a glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 or a glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 as it crosses the redraw path 102 through one or more furnace regions 240. It may be positioned along various vertical positions of the furnace housing 210 to determine the temperature of the furnace housing 210. In some embodiments, the pyrometer 140 is fixed, and in other embodiments, the pyrometer 140 may be configured to scan across the width of the sheet (ie, one pyrometer is glass. Many readings may be taken at various points across the width of the plate), individual pyrometers 140, for example, to generate a temperature profile of the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from it. The temperature of the reformed glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the remodeled glass plate 110 may be measured between the first edge portion 116 and the second edge portion 118. In addition, the temperature of the preform glass plate 110 (measured by the thermometer 140) or the glass drawn from it was first and foremost (measured by the heat-controlled thermocouple 142a) using the redraw system controller 150. It may be compared with the temperature output by the second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b and the temperature of the furnace channel 216 (measured by the process controlled thermocouple 142b). By this comparison, the redraw system controller 150 were charged with the temperatures of the heating units 250a, 250b, the temperature of the furnace channel 216, and the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from it. The redraw system controller 150 can determine the temperature relationship between the two, the heat output by the heating units 250a, 250b, the translational speed of the glass hanger system 312, and the electric pair of rollers 332a, 332b. The torque, rotation speed, and position of the roller assembly 330 can be changed, and the preform glass plate 110 may be dampened to a desired thickness T.

In some embodiments, the pyrometer 140 may be used to measure the sheet shape. That is, the temperatures of the first and second surfaces 112, 114 may be monitored and there is an undesired sheet shape when there is a temperature change that exceeds typical amounts, eg, each part of the glass plate is desired. It may be determined that the temperature deviates from the plane of. On the other hand, when the pyrometer 140 shows that the temperature change is extremely small, it can be determined that there is almost no undesired sheet shape. The redraw system controller 150 can determine when there is a desirable or undesired sheet shape by monitoring the temperature change from the pyrometer 140 and the rest of the glass redraw system to reduce the sheet shape. Can be adjusted. For example, the rest of the glass redraw system 100 includes a heating unit 250, a heating element 250', a roller assembly 330, a coolant fluid flow (described below), a gas extraction facility (described below) to facilitate sheet flattening. (Described below) and the like may be included.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the glass thickness measuring gauge 144 measures the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from it in one or more vertical positions along the redraw path 102. You may measure. The glass thickness measuring gauge 144 may include, for example, a spectroscopic interference laser displacement meter, a high-precision co-focus color difference meter, a laser co-focus sensor, or the like, as sold by Keyence. In some embodiments, a gauge having a working distance higher than the working distance of the gauge described above will be desirable. In some embodiments, the glass thickness measuring gauge 144 measures the thickness T of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 after the thickness T has been dampened by the roller assembly 330b. It may be positioned downstream of the recovery roller assembly 330d at the furnace outlet 232. The glass thickness measuring gauge 144 may be fixed or scanning. In some embodiments, the plurality of glass thickness measuring gauges 144 measure the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 or the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 at a plurality of lateral positions. It may be laterally positioned adjacent to a common vertical position so that the redraw system controller 150 has a preform glass plate 110 or glass drawn from it at the first and second edges. It is possible to determine whether or not the components are uniformly attenuated between the portions 116 and 118.

Further, the thermal line scanner 148 may be positioned vertically at the furnace outlet 232, for example, on the downstream side of the glass thickness measuring gauge 144, and the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 is collected with the furnace outlet 232. The temperature of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 when translating to and from the unit 400 may be measured. During operation, the thermal line scanner 148 measures the temperature profiles of the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 between the first and second edges 116, 118. May be good. During operation, the temperature measurement results of the thermal line scanner 148 are based on the temperature of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 and the temperature of the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 after the glass drawn from the preform glass plate 110 exits the furnace outlet 232. In order to determine the correlation with the thickness of the drawn glass, for example, the redraw system controller 150 may be used and compared with the thickness measurement result of the glass thickness measuring gauge 144.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the redraw furnace 200 and the redraw drive system 300 may each be fluidly cooled using coolant fluids such as air, water and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the redraw furnace 200 is positioned within one or more of the first surface wall 222, the second surface wall 224, the first edge wall 226, and the second edge wall 228. It may be provided with a plurality of fluid cooling channels 270. The fluid cooling channel 270 includes one or more pipes, tubes, etc. that provide a fluid path. Further, the plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 may be fluid coupled to one or more reservoirs 272 (FIG. 3) and one or more pump pumping systems 274 (FIG. 3), and the coolant fluid may be fluid-coupled to the plurality of fluid cooling channels. It may be continuously pumped through the 270 to remove heat from the furnace housing 210.

In some embodiments, the volume and velocity of the coolant fluid flowing through the fluid cooling channel 270 is modified, for example, by one or more pump pumping systems 274 to control the cooling of the furnace enclosure 210. May be good. Further, the plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 may be positioned within the furnace housing 210, and the fluid cooling channels 270 may be positioned adjacent to different furnace regions 240. During operation, the plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 may be independently controlled. As a non-limiting example, if more cooling is desired in the annealing region 248, the fluid cooling channel 270 positioned in the furnace enclosure 210 adjacent to the annealing region 248 has increased coolant fluid. It may be subject to volume and / or velocity. Further, one or more pump pumping systems 274 may be communicatively coupled to the redraw system controller 150 (FIG. 5) to provide control signals to the pump pumping system 274. It should be understood that the temperature of each part of the furnace enclosure 210 within the different furnace regions 240 may be selectively controlled by controlling the volume and velocity of the coolant fluid through the individual fluid cooling channels 270. be.

In some embodiments, the fluid cooling channel 270 or other flow path may extend to the various components of the glass redraw system 100 and the coolant fluid passes through the various components of the glass redraw system 100. It can be circulated. For example, one or more fluid cooling channels 270 include a thermal change gate 120, a thermal spreader 130, a pyrometer 140, a thermocouple 142, a hanging shaft 314 and a glass holding base 322 of a glass hanger system 312, and a plurality of roller sets. It may be positioned within each roller shaft 338 of the solid 330.

During operation, the circulating cooling fluid passing through the individual components may cool these components while heat is being output to the furnace channel 216. For example, the circulating cooling fluid (eg, air) passing through each roller shaft 338 may minimize sagging (eg, vertical sagging) of the roller shaft 338 extending to furnace channel 216. Further, during fluid cooling, the roller shaft 338 and the roller cylinder 340 remove heat in the vicinity of the first and second edges 116, 118 of the preform glass plate 110 (or the glass drawn from it). Preform glass plate 110 (or drawn from it) to reduce the viscosity of preform glass plate 110 (or glass drawn from it) along the first and second edges 116, 118. It may operate as a heat sink at individual locations along the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the glass). Preform glass plate 110 (or drawn from it) by reducing the viscosity of preform glass plate 110 (or glass drawn from it) along the first and second edges 116, 118. As the glass) crosses the redraw path 102, the attenuation of the width W of the preform glass plate 110 (or the glass drawn from it) may be reduced. Further, the circulating cooling fluid passing through the hanging shaft 314 and the glass holding base 322 of the glass hanger system 312 further causes the glass clamp 324 to be about 250 ° C. Cooling may be provided to the glass clamp 324 when the glass clamp 324 comprises silicone to keep it below.

With reference to FIG. 1 again, the redraw furnace 200 may further include one or more edge cooling bayonets 290 extending adjacent to the redraw path 102 to the ending furnace channel 216. As shown in FIG. 1, the edge cooling bayonet 290 is positioned within the annealing region 248, but any number of edge cooling bayonets 290 may be positioned in any of the furnace regions 240. You should understand that. In some embodiments, the one or more edge cooling bayonets 290 are fluid coupled to a plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 so that the coolant fluid may flow through the edge cooling bayonet 290. In another embodiment, the edge cooling bayonet 290 may receive the coolant fluid from one or more reservoirs 272 (FIG. 3) independent of the plurality of fluid cooling channels 270. During operation, the edge cooling bayonet 290 is the first of the preform glass plate 110 (or the glass drawn from it) as the preform glass plate 110 (or the glass drawn from it) crosses the redraw path 102. The first and second edges 116, 118 may be cooled. Local cooling of the first and second edges 116, 118 of the preform glass plate 110 (or glass drawn from it) may reinforce the first and second edges 116, 118. , The attenuation of the width W may be minimized.

With reference to FIG. 3 here, the redraw furnace 200 may further include one or more gas extraction tubes 280 configured to remove gas from the furnace channel 216. In some embodiments, the gas extraction tube 280 may be fluid coupled to the gas extraction pump 285 and the gas extraction tube 280 may actively extract gas from the furnace channel 216. .. In another embodiment, the gas extraction tube 280 pumps gas, for example, when airflow is present in the furnace channel 216 and / or when the furnace channel 216 has a pressure above atmospheric pressure. It is configured to passively output from furnace channel 216 without the use of 285. The one or more gas extraction tubes 280 may extend through one or more of the first and second surface walls 222, 224 and the first and second edge walls 226 and 228. In some embodiments, the gas extraction tube 280 can be sealed to seal the furnace channel 216. In some embodiments, the gas extraction tube 280 is positioned within the annealing region 248, damping region 246, or both. For example, the gas extraction tube 280 may be positioned perpendicular to the downstream side of the damping region 246 in order to minimize airflow in the damping region.

During operation, the vertical temperature gradient 500 (FIG. 7) formed in the furnace channel 216 by the first and second heating units 250a, 250b leaks from the furnace inlet 230 (eg, from the hanger cover 320). At some time, airflow may be generated within the furnace channel 216, for example, between the outlet end 214 and the inlet end 212. During operation, the gas extraction tube 280 extracts gas from the furnace enclosure 210, for example, from the annealing region 248 and / or the damping region 246 to reduce the airflow flowing through the damping region 246. By limiting the airflow through the decay region 246, the airflow does not affect the thickness T of the preform glass plate 110 (eg, the airflow is undesirable on the preform glass plate 110 and the glass drawn from it). The preform glass plate 110 may be heated and dampened (without producing thickness features).

Still referring to FIG. 3, the redraw furnace 200 may further include one or more gas injection tubes 282 structurally configured to introduce gas into the furnace channel 216. The gas injection tube 282 may be fluid coupled to the gas injection pump 286 so that the gas injection tube 282 may actively introduce gas into the furnace channel 216. In an embodiment in which the gas extraction tube 280 is fluid-coupled to the gas extraction pump 285, the gas injection tube 282 may be fluid-coupled to the gas extraction pump 285 or the gas injection pump 286. The one or more gas injection tubes 282 may extend through one or more of the first and second surface walls 222, 224 and the first and second edge walls 226, 228. In some embodiments, the gas injection tube 282 can be sealed to seal the furnace channel 216. The gas injection tube 282 may be positioned within the staging region 242, the preheating region 244, or both, and the gas pressure damping region 246 to counter the upstream airflow caused by the temperature increase in the damping region 246. The gas is configured to be introduced vertically upstream of the damping region 246 to increase on the upstream side of the.

Further, the gas extraction pump 285 and the gas injection pump 286 may be communicatively coupled to the redraw system controller 150 (FIG. 5) to provide control signals to the gas extraction pump 285 and the gas injection pump 286, respectively. .. The glass redraw system 100 may also include one or more pressure sensors 149 (FIG. 5) positioned within the furnace enclosure 210 and communicatively coupled to the redraw system controller 150. The one or more pressure sensors 149 are structurally configured to measure the pressure and / or airflow in the furnace enclosure 210 and output the sensor signals to the redraw system controller 150. During operation, the redraw system controller 150, for example, one to minimize the airflow in the furnace channel 216 and / or limit the airflow in the furnace channel 216 to a layered airflow. Based on the pressure and / or airflow signal measured by the pressure sensor 149 above, the gas extraction pump 285 may be used to control the volume and velocity of the gas removed from the furnace channel 216, the gas injection pump. 286 may be used to control the volume and rate of gas introduced into furnace channel 216.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein provide a system and method of attenuating a preformed glass plate using a glass redraw system. The glass redraw system includes a redraw furnace configured to have multiple heating units coupled to the furnace enclosure and to output heat to a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet. The redraw furnace includes a preheating region, a damping region, and an annealing region, and when multiple heating units output heat to the reactor channel, the damping region reaches a temperature higher than the preheating region and the annealing region and crosses the redraw path. The preform glass plate may be heated to a softening temperature within the damping region. The redraw system may further include a heat spreader and a heat change gate configured to generate a steep temperature gradient between the decay region and the adjacent furnace region. In addition, the glass redraw system engages the preform glass plate (or the glass drawn from it) and guides the preform glass plate (or the glass drawn from it) through the furnace enclosure. Includes a plurality of roller assemblies configured to apply vertical tension to dampen the thickness of the preform glass plate. The systems and methods described herein have uniform thickness throughout the width (and along the length) and have low warpage (ie, good flatness) drawn glass. Provided are systems and methods for consistently and efficiently attenuating the thickness of preformed glass plates to form plates.

Although certain embodiments have been exemplified and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed. Moreover, various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, but such aspects need not be utilized in combination. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and amendments within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

It should also be understood that the systems and methods of attenuating preform glass plates using the glass redraw system described herein may be described in terms of several embodiments. In a first aspect, the glass redraw system has a furnace housing having a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet, a dampening heating unit coupled to the furnace housing, and between the furnace inlet and the dampening heating unit. Includes a redraw furnace with a positioned preheating area and an annealing area positioned between the furnace outlet and the decay heating unit. The glass redraw system is also coupled to the furnace enclosure to suppress heat transfer along the furnace channel between the dampening heating unit and one of the preheating regions or annealing regions, and the dampening heating unit and preheating region or annealing. It may include one or more heat change gates extending into the furnace channel with one of the regions.

A second aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the first aspect, in which one or more heat change gates are located upstream of the damping heating unit in the transport direction between the damping heating unit and the preheating region. Includes a side heat change gate and a downstream heat change gate positioned downstream of the damping heating unit in the transport direction between the damping heating unit and the annealing region.

A third aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the first or second aspect, in which one or more heat change gates are coupled to the first surface wall of the furnace housing and extend through the furnace channel. Includes a first gate portion extending longitudinally towards the path and a second gate portion coupled to the second surface wall of the furnace housing and extending longitudinally towards the redraw path.

A fourth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the third aspect, wherein the one or more heat change gates have a furnace casing such that the first gate portion and the second gate portion are each movable in the longitudinal direction. It is slidably connected to the body.

A fifth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the third or fourth aspect, the first gate portion and the second gate portion being longitudinally between the retracted position and the extended position, respectively. In the movable and retracted position, the first gate portion and the second gate portion are removed from the furnace channel, and in the extended position, the first gate portion and the second gate portion are redrawn. It ends longitudinally adjacent to the path.

In a sixth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to fifth aspects further comprises a thermal spreader positioned between the dampening heating unit and the redraw path extending through the furnace channel. The thermal spreader is configured to disperse heat vertically and laterally along the thermal spreader.

In a seventh aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to sixth aspects further comprises a plurality of heating units, the plurality of heating units being attenuated heating units, in a furnace housing within the preheating region. Includes a coupled preheating unit and an annealing heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure within the annealing region.

The eighth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the seventh aspect, and when the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel, the decay heating unit heats the heat higher than each of the preheating unit and the annealing heating unit. Output with.

A ninth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the seventh or eighth aspect, the plurality of heating units each comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent heating elements.

A tenth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the ninth aspect, the damping heating unit comprising a heating element laterally adjacent to both the preheating unit and the annealing heating unit.

The eleventh aspect comprises any combination of glass redraw systems of the seventh to tenth aspects, the plurality of heating units each comprising a resistance heater, an induction heater, or a combination thereof.

A twelfth aspect comprises any combination of glass redraw systems of the seventh to eleventh aspects, the preheating unit pumping heat from about 600 ° C. to about 600 ° C. when the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel. The attenuation heating unit outputs heat at a temperature of up to 900 ° C., the annealing heating unit outputs heat at a temperature of about 1300 ° C. to about 1700 ° C., and the annealing heating unit outputs heat at a temperature of about 700 ° C. to about 1000 ° C. ..

A thirteenth aspect comprises any combination of glass redraw systems of the seventh to twelfth aspects, the furnace housing comprises a first surface wall facing a second surface wall, and a plurality of heating units. The individual heating units of are bonded to the first surface wall and the second surface wall in a common vertical position, and each individual heating unit bonded to the first surface wall is bonded to the second surface wall. It is designed to be longitudinally aligned with the individual heating units.

In a fourteenth aspect, the glass redraw system of any combination of aspects seven to thirteen is positioned between the individual heating units of the plurality of heating units and the redraw path extending through the furnace channel. Further including a thermal spreader, the thermal spreader is configured to disperse heat vertically and laterally along the thermal spreader.

In a fifteenth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to fourteenth aspects is positioned within one or more walls of the furnace housing and the coolant fluid in one or more fluid cooling channels. Further includes one or more fluid cooling channels fluidly coupled to a fluid pump pumping system structurally configured to circulate in.

In a sixteenth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to fifteenth aspects extends to the furnace channel and ends adjacent to a redraw path that extends through the furnace channel. Further includes a cooling bayonet.

In a seventeenth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to sixteenth aspects is fluid-coupled to a furnace channel and one or more gas extraction tubes positioned perpendicular to the downstream side of the damping heating unit. One or more gas extraction tubes are structurally configured to remove gas from the furnace channel.

In an eighteenth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to seventeenth aspects is fluid-coupled to a furnace channel and one or more gas injection tubes positioned perpendicular to the upstream side of the damping heating unit. One or more gas injection tubes are structurally configured to feed gas into the furnace channel.

In a nineteenth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to eighteenth aspects further comprises a plurality of roller assemblies positioned along a redraw path extending through the furnace channel. The roller assembly includes a damping roller assembly positioned downstream of the damping heating unit in the transport direction and a recovery roller assembly positioned downstream of the damping roller assembly in the transport direction. And the recovery roller assembly comprises one or more electric roller pairs of rollers configured to engage the glass plate and apply tension to the glass plate.

In a twentieth aspect of the glass redraw system of the nineteenth aspect, one or more electric roller pairs of rollers in the damping roller assembly and the recovery roller assembly operate in one of torque and speed modes, in torque mode. , One or more electric pairs of rollers rotate at a constant torque, and in speed mode, one or more electric pairs of rollers rotate at a constant speed.

In the 21st aspect of the glass redraw system of the 19th or 20th aspect, the damping roller assembly is adjustable between the extended position and the retracted position, and in the extended position, the damping roller. The roller cylinder of the assembly is positioned at the edge of the redraw path, and at the retracted position, the roller cylinder of the damping roller assembly is removed from the redraw path.

In the 22nd aspect of the glass redraw system of any combination of aspects 19 to 21, the damping roller assembly is pivotable in the downstream direction perpendicular to the roller joint and the damping roller assembly. When one or more electric pairs of rollers of the damping roller assembly are engaged with the glass plate and the damping roller assembly is pivoted vertically downstream, tension is applied vertically to the glass plate and It is designed to be applied in both the lateral directions.

In a twenty-third aspect, the glass redraw system of any combination of the first to twenty-second aspects is a supply unit configured to engage the furnace inlet and suspend the preform glass plate in the furnace channel. Including further.

A twenty-fourth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the twenty-third aspect, the supply unit comprises a glass hanger system, the glass hanger system is a glass holding base having a glass clamp engageable with a preform glass plate, and a glass holding base. The hanger drive system has one or more hanging shafts that are coupled to the hanger drive system and the glass holding base and extend between the hanger driving system and the glass holding base, and the hanger driving system has a glass holding base and one or more hangings. The shaft is structurally configured to translate along a portion of the redraw path that extends through the furnace channel.

A twenty-fifth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the twenty-fourth aspect, the glass hanger system further comprising a hanger cover engageable with the furnace enclosure to cover the furnace inlet of the furnace enclosure, one or more. The hanging shaft extends through the hanger cover.

In a twenty-sixth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to 25th aspects further comprises a recovery unit, the redraw path extending through the furnace channel and ending at the recovery unit.

A 27th aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the 26th aspect, the recovery unit further comprising a recovery spool and a cutting device.

In a twenty-eighth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the first to 27th embodiments comprises one or more pyrometers, one or more thermocouples, one or more glass thickness measuring gauges, and one. Further includes one or more thermal line scanners.

A 29th aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the 28th aspect, at least one thermocouple is positioned within the furnace housing, at least one glass thickness measuring gauge and at least one thermal line scanner are at the furnace outlet. It is positioned between the and the recovery unit.

In a thirtieth aspect, the glass redraw system is structurally coupled to a furnace housing having a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet and to output heat to the furnace housing. Includes a redraw furnace with a configured dampening heating unit, a redraw path extending through the furnace channel, and one or more electric pairs of rollers extending in the transport direction downstream of the dampening heating unit. One or more electric pairs of rollers, including a damping roller assembly, are adjustable between an extended position along the redraw path and a retracted position away from the redraw path, and one or more of the rollers. The electric pair can engage the preform glass plate to apply vertical tension to the preform glass plate.

A thirty-first aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the thirtieth aspect, wherein one or more electric pairs of rollers in the damping roller assembly include a roller shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end. Each including each roller shaft is mechanically engaged with the roller drive system at the first shaft end and coupled to the roller cylinder at the second shaft end.

A thirty-second aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the thirty-first aspect, and each roller cylinder of one or more electric pairs of rollers in the damping roller assembly comprises a refractory material.

A thirty-third aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the thirty-first aspect or the thirty-second aspect, wherein each roller shaft of one or more electric pairs of rollers of the damping roller assembly extends through the damping roller assembly. It has one or more fluid cooling channels.

A thirty-fourth aspect comprises any combination of glass redraw systems of aspects thirty to thirty-third, wherein one or more electric pairs of rollers of the damping roller assembly, when actuated, of the damping roller assembly. It operates in torque mode so that one or more electric pairs of rollers rotate at a constant torque.

A thirty-fifth aspect comprises any combination of glass redraw systems of aspects thirty to thirty-four, wherein the damping roller assembly is pivotable around the roller joint in the vertical downstream direction and the damping roller. The assembly is perpendicular to the glass plate when one or more electric pairs of rollers of the damping roller assembly are engaged with the glass plate and the damping roller assembly is pivoted vertically downstream. It is designed to be applied in both the directional and lateral directions.

In a thirty-sixth aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the thirtieth to thirty-five aspects is a recovery roller assembly having one or more pairs of electric rollers positioned between the furnace outlet and the recovery unit. One or more pairs of electric rollers are adjacent to the redraw path so that they can engage the glass plate and apply vertical tension to the glass plate.

A thirty-seventh aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the thirty-sixth aspect, wherein one or more electric pairs of rollers in the recovery roller assembly have a roller shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end. Each including each roller shaft is mechanically engaged with the roller drive system at the first shaft end and coupled to the roller cylinder at the second shaft end.

A thirty-eightth aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the thirty-sixth aspect or the thirty-seventh aspect, and each roller cylinder of one or more electric pairs of rollers in the recovery roller assembly comprises a polymeric material.

A thirty-ninth aspect comprises any combination of glass redraw systems from the thirty-sixth aspect to the thirty-eighth aspect, the recovery roller assembly when one or more electric pairs of rollers in the recovery roller assembly are activated. Operates in speed mode so that one or more electric pairs of three-dimensional rollers rotate at a constant speed.

The 40th aspect comprises any combination of glass redraw systems from the 36th aspect to the 39th aspect, the redraw path extending through the furnace channel and ending with a recovery unit of the recovery roller assembly. One or more electric pairs of rollers can be adjusted between an extended position along the redraw path and a retracted position away from the redraw path.

In a 41st aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the 30th to 40th aspects further comprises a positioning roller assembly extending into the furnace channel in the transport direction at a position upstream of the damping heating unit, the positioning roller. The assembly is adjustable between an extended position along the redraw path and a retracted position away from the redraw path.

In a 42nd aspect, any combination of glass redraw systems of the 30th to 41st aspects further comprises a plurality of heating units, the plurality of heating units being attenuated coupled to the furnace enclosure within the damping region. It includes a heating unit, a preheating unit coupled to the furnace housing in the preheating region, and an annealing heating unit coupled to the furnace housing in the annealing region.

When the 43rd aspect comprises the glass redraw system of the 42nd aspect and the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel, the decay heating unit heats the heat higher than each of the preheating unit and the annealing heating unit. Output with.

In a 44th aspect, the method of attenuating the preform glass plate comprises the step of suspending the preform glass plate in a redraw furnace using a supply unit. The redraw furnace has a furnace housing having a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet, and a plurality of heatings structurally configured to output heat to the furnace housing by being coupled to the furnace housing. The method comprises heating the preform glass plate using a plurality of heating units so that at least a part of the preform glass plate is heated to the softening temperature, and the first of the preform glass plates. A step of engaging a damping roller assembly extending into the furnace channel in the transport direction at a position downstream of one or more damping heating units of the plurality of heating units and a preform glass plate transporting the surface and the second surface of the It further comprises applying vertical tension to the preform glass plate by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the damping roller assembly so that the thickness of the preform glass plate is attenuated when translated in the direction.

A 45th aspect comprises the method of the 44th aspect, in which one or more roller cylinders of the damping roller assembly rotate in torque mode.

In the 46th aspect, the method of the 44th aspect or the 45th aspect is to attenuate the glass drawn from the first surface and the second surface of the preform glass plate in the transport direction of the roller assembly and the furnace outlet. It further includes a step of engaging with a recovery roller assembly positioned on both downstream sides.

In the 47th aspect, the method of the 46th aspect further comprises the step of disengaging the damping roller assembly from the preform glass plate when the preform glass plate is engaged with the recovery roller assembly.

In the 48th aspect, the method of the 46th aspect or the 47th aspect further comprises applying vertical tension to the preform glass plate by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the recovery roller assembly.

A 49th aspect comprises the method of the 48th aspect, in which one or more roller cylinders of the recovery roller assembly rotate in speed mode.

In the 50th aspect, any combination of methods from the 44th aspect to the 49th aspect comprises receiving the glass drawn from the preform glass plate in a recovery unit positioned downstream of the furnace outlet. Including further.

When the 55th aspect comprises the method of the 50th aspect and the glass drawn from the preform glass plate is received by the recovery unit, the glass drawn from the preform glass plate has a thickness of less than about 100 μm. including.

A 52nd aspect comprises any combination of methods from the 44th aspect to the 51st aspect, the supply unit comprises a glass hanger system, the glass hanger system is a glass engageable with a preform glass plate. The hanger drive system has a glass pinching base having a clamp and one or more hanging shafts coupled to the hanger driving system and the glass pinching base extending between the hanger driving system and the glass pinching base. The base and one or more suspension shafts are structurally configured to translate along a portion of the redraw path that extends through the furnace channel.

In the 53rd aspect, the method of the 52nd aspect translates the glass holding base and the preform glass plate in the transport direction, and when the preform glass plate is engaged with the damping roller assembly, the glass holding base and the preform glass plate are inserted. It further includes a step of stopping the translation of the reformed glass plate.

In the 54th aspect, in any combination of methods from the 44th aspect to the 53rd aspect, the preform glass plate is vertically adjacent to the positioning roller assembly and the preform glass plate is adjacent to the positioning roller assembly. Further includes the step of engaging when the preform glass plate is engaged and disengaging the positioning roller assembly from the preform glass plate when the preform glass plate is engaged with the damping roller assembly.

When the 55th aspect includes any combination of methods from the 44th aspect to the 54th aspect, and the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel, one or more damping heating units generate heat. Output at a higher temperature than one or more remaining heating units.

The 56th aspect includes any combination of methods from the 44th aspect to the 55th aspect, and the preform glass plate includes a laminated glass plate.

The 57th aspect includes any combination of methods from the 44th aspect to the 56th aspect, and the preform glass plate comprises a wound glass plate.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in terms of terms.

Embodiment 1
In the glass redraw system
A furnace housing with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet,
The damping heating unit coupled to the furnace housing and
A preheating region positioned between the furnace inlet and the damping heating unit,
A redraw furnace comprising an annealing region positioned between the furnace outlet and the damping heating unit,
Between the damping heating unit and the preheating region or one of the annealing regions, which is coupled to the furnace housing and extends to the furnace channel between the damping heating unit and one of the preheating regions or the annealing region. One or more heat change gates that suppress heat transfer along the furnace channel of the
With a glass redraw system.

Embodiment 2
The one or more heat change gates
An upstream heat change gate positioned upstream of the damping heating unit in the transport direction between the damping heating unit and the preheating region.
The glass redraw system according to the first embodiment, comprising a downstream heat changing gate positioned downstream of the damping heating unit in a transport direction between the damping heating unit and the annealing region.

Embodiment 3
A first gate portion, wherein the one or more heat change gates are coupled to a first surface wall of the furnace housing and extend longitudinally toward a redraw path extending through the furnace channel, and said. Each of the second gate portions coupled to the second surface wall of the furnace housing and extending longitudinally toward the redraw path, the one or more heat changing gates are the first gate portion and the said. The glass redraw system according to the first embodiment, wherein each of the second gate portions is slidably coupled to the furnace housing so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction.

Embodiment 4
In a glass redraw system, a furnace housing with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet,
A redraw furnace comprising a damping heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure and structurally configured to output heat to the furnace enclosure.
A redraw path that extends through the furnace channel,
A damping roller assembly comprising one or more electric roller pairs of rollers extending into the furnace channel in the transport direction at a position downstream of the damping heating unit, wherein the one or more electric roller pairs of rollers are said. Adjustable between the stretched position along the redraw path and the retracted position away from the redraw path, the one or more electric roller pairs of rollers apply vertical tension to the preform glass plate. With a damping roller assembly that is engageable with the preform glass plate,
With
The one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the damping roller assembly each include a roller shaft comprising a first shaft end and a second shaft end, where each roller shaft is the first shaft end. It is mechanically engaged with the roller drive system at the section and coupled to the roller cylinder at the end of the second shaft.
Torque mode such that when the one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the damping roller assembly are activated, the one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the damping roller assembly rotate at a constant torque. A glass redraw system that works with.

Embodiment 5
Further comprising a thermal spreader positioned between the decay heating unit and a redraw path extending through the furnace channel so that the thermal spreader distributes heat vertically and laterally along the thermal spreader. The glass redraw system according to any one of the first to fourth embodiments.

Embodiment 6
One or more gas extraction tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned perpendicular to the downstream side of the dampening heating unit, the one or more gas extraction tubes removing gas from the furnace channel. The one or more gas extraction tubes structurally configured as described above, and
One or more gas injection tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned perpendicular to the upstream side of the damping heating unit, structurally configured to feed gas into the furnace channel1 With one or more gas injection tubes
The glass redraw system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5, further comprising at least one of the above.

Embodiment 7
Further comprising a supply unit that is engageable with the furnace inlet and is configured to suspend a preform glass plate in the furnace channel, the supply unit includes a glass hanger system, the glass hanger system.
A glass holding base with a glass clamp that can engage with a preform glass plate,
One or more hanging shafts coupled to the hanger drive system and the glass holding base and extending between the hanger driving system and the glass holding base, wherein the hanger driving system is the glass holding base and the 1 The one or more suspension shafts, which are structurally configured to translate one or more suspension shafts along a portion of a redraw path extending through the furnace channel.
A hanger cover that is engageable with the furnace housing to cover the furnace inlet of the furnace housing, wherein the one or more hanging shafts extend through the hanger cover. The glass redraw system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the glass redraw system comprises.

8th Embodiment
Any one of embodiments 1-7, further comprising a recovery unit, the redraw path extending through the furnace channel and ending at the recovery unit, wherein the recovery unit further comprises a recovery spool and a cutting device. The glass redraw system described.

Embodiment 9
In the damping roller assembly, the one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the damping roller assembly are engaged with the glass plate, and the damping roller assembly is pivoted vertically in the downstream direction. The glass according to embodiment 4, wherein the damping roller assembly is pivotable around the roller joint in a vertically downstream direction so that tension is applied to the glass plate both vertically and laterally. Redraw system.

Embodiment 10
A recovery roller assembly comprising one or more pairs of electric rollers positioned between the furnace outlet and the recovery unit is further provided, and the one or more pairs of electric rollers are engageable with the glass plate. Adjacent to the redraw path so as to apply vertical tension to the glass plate
The one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the recovery roller assembly each include a roller shaft that includes a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and each roller shaft is the first shaft end. It is mechanically engaged with the roller drive system at the section and coupled to the roller cylinder at the end of the second shaft.
The glass redraw system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein each roller cylinder of the one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the recovery roller assembly comprises a polymeric material.

Embodiment 11
A plurality of heating units are further provided, and the plurality of heating units include the damping heating unit coupled to the furnace housing in the damping region, the preheating unit coupled to the furnace housing in the preheating region, and annealing. When the plurality of heating units include an annealing heating unit coupled to the furnace housing in the region and the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel, the decay heating unit transfers heat to the preheating unit and the annealing heating unit. The glass redraw system according to embodiment 4 or 9, which outputs at a higher temperature than each.

Embodiment 12
In the method of attenuating the preform glass plate,
A step of suspending a preform glass plate into a redraw furnace using a supply unit, wherein the redraw furnace is
A furnace housing with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet,
The step, which comprises a plurality of heating units coupled to the furnace enclosure and structurally configured to output heat to the furnace enclosure.
A step of heating the preform glass plate using the plurality of heating units so that at least a part of the preform glass plate is heated to a softening temperature.
The first surface and the second surface of the preform glass plate are engaged with a damping roller assembly extending in a transport direction to the furnace channel at a position downstream of one or more damping heating units of the plurality of heating units. Steps to do and
Vertical tension is applied by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the damping roller assembly so that the thickness of the preform glass plate is dampened as the preform glass plate translates in the transport direction. Steps applied to the glass plate and
Including methods.

Embodiment 13
With the recovery roller assembly in which the first surface of the preform glass plate and the glass drawn from the second surface are positioned downstream of both the damping roller assembly and the furnace outlet in the transport direction. With the steps to engage,
A step of disengaging the damping roller assembly from the preform glass plate when the preform glass plate is engaged with the recovery roller assembly.
A step of applying vertical tension to the preform glass plate by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the recovery roller assembly, wherein the one or more roller cylinders of the recovery roller assembly are in speed mode. With the above step rotating with
Including,
The method according to the twelfth embodiment.

Embodiment 14
The supply unit includes a glass hanger system, wherein the glass hanger system
A glass holding base with a glass clamp that can engage with a preform glass plate,
Includes one or more hanging shafts coupled to the hanger drive system and the glass holding base and extending between the hanger driving system and the glass holding base.
The hanger drive system is structurally configured to translate the glass holding base and the one or more suspension shafts along a portion of a redraw path extending across the furnace channel.
The method translates the glass holding base and the preform glass plate in the transport direction, and when the preform glass plate is engaged with the damping roller assembly, the glass holding base and the preform glass plate 12. The method of embodiment 12 or 13, further comprising the step of stopping the translation of.

Embodiment 15
The preform glass plate engages with the positioning roller assembly when the preform glass plate is longitudinally adjacent to the positioning roller assembly, and the preform glass plate engages with the damping roller assembly. The method of any one of embodiments 12-14, further comprising the step of disengaging the positioning roller assembly from the preform glass plate when fitted.

Embodiment 16
Embodiments 12-15, wherein when the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel, the one or more damping heating units output heat at a higher temperature than the one or more remaining heating units. The method described in any one of the items.

212 Inlet end 300 Redraw drive system 100 Glass redraw system 230 Furnace inlet 310 Supply unit 200 Redraw furnace 224 Second surface wall 104 Transport direction 250b Heating unit 252a Heating unit 330a Positioning roller assembly 280 Gas extraction tube 254b Heating unit 102 Redraw Path 110 Preform glass plate 270 Fluid cooling channel 256b Heating unit 120b Thermal change gate 142 Thermocouple 130 Thermal spreader 258b Heating unit 330b First damping roller assembly 280 Gas extraction tube 260b Heating unit 262b Heating unit 264b Heating unit 232 Furnace outlet 330d Roller assembly 400 Recovery unit 410 Recovery spool 290 Edge cooling bayonet 420 Cutting device 142 Thermocouple 214 Outlet end 264a Heating unit 262a Heating unit 330c Second damping roller assembly 258a First annealing heating unit 256a Damping heating unit 254a Second preheating unit 252a First preheating unit 250a Heating unit 222 First surface wall 210 Furnace housing 240 Furnace area 242 Staging area 244 Preheating area 246 Damping area 248 Annealing area

Claims (11)

In a glass redraw system, a furnace housing with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet,
The damping heating unit coupled to the furnace housing and
Preheating region which is positioned between the furnace inlet and the previous SL damping heating unit,
A first annealing region positioned between the furnace outlet and the damping heating unit, located adjacent to the damping region in which the damping heating unit is located and perpendicular to the downstream side of the damping region. A redraw furnace containing an annealing region containing an annealing heating unit, and
A plurality of fluid cooling channels positioned on one or more of the first surface wall or the second surface wall of the furnace enclosure of the furnace housing, one or more reservoirs and one or more pumps A plurality of fluid cooling channels that are fluid-coupled to the pumping system, the coolant fluid is continuously pumped through the plurality of fluid cooling channels, and heat is removed from the furnace housing.
Between the damping heating unit and the preheating region or one of the annealing regions, which is coupled to the furnace housing and extends to the furnace channel between the damping heating unit and one of the preheating regions or the annealing region. One or more heat change gates that suppress heat transfer along the furnace channel, said one or more heat change gates.
An upstream heat change gate positioned upstream of the damping heating unit in the transport direction between the damping heating unit and the preheating region.
The one or more heat change gates, including a downstream heat change gate positioned downstream of the damping heating unit in the transport direction between the damping heating unit and the annealing region.
With
A first gate portion, each of which is coupled to the first surface wall of the furnace housing and extends longitudinally towards a redraw path that extends through the furnace channel. And one or more heat change gates, including a second gate portion coupled to the second surface wall of the furnace enclosure and extending longitudinally towards the redraw path, are the first gate. A glass redraw system in which a portion and the second gate portion are slidably coupled to the furnace housing so that they can each be moved in the longitudinal direction. In a glass redraw system, a furnace housing with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet,
A redraw furnace including a damping heating unit coupled to the furnace housing and structurally configured to output heat to the furnace housing.
A redraw path that extends through the furnace channel,
A damping roller assembly comprising one or more electric roller pairs of rollers extending into the furnace channel in the transport direction at a position downstream of the damping heating unit, wherein the one or more electric roller pairs of rollers are said. Adjustable between the stretched position along the redraw path and the retracted position away from the redraw path, the one or more electric roller pairs of rollers apply vertical tension to the preform glass plate. the possible preform glass plate engage in order to, with the damping roller assembly,
With
The one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the damping roller assembly each include a roller shaft that includes a first shaft end and a second shaft end, where each roller shaft is the first shaft end. It is mechanically engaged with the roller drive system at the section and coupled to the roller cylinder at the end of the second shaft.
Torque mode such that when the one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the damping roller assembly are activated, the one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the damping roller assembly rotate at a constant torque. Works with
When the damping roller assembly is such that one or more electric roller pairs of rollers of the damping roller assembly are engaged with a glass plate and the damping roller assembly is driven vertically in the downstream direction. Vertically upstream to an angle of −α with respect to the lateral (X) axis in the downstream direction so that the damping roller assembly applies tensile force to the glass plate both vertically and laterally. A glass redraw system that can pivot around a roller joint up to an angle of + α with respect to the lateral (X) axis in the lateral direction. A thermal spreader positioned between the decay heating unit and a redraw path extending through the furnace channel is further provided so that the thermal spreader distributes heat vertically and laterally along the thermal spreader. The glass redraw system according to claim 1 or 2. One or more gas extraction tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned perpendicular to the downstream side of the dampening heating unit, the one or more gas extraction tubes removing gas from the furnace channel. The one or more gas extraction tubes structurally configured as described above, and
One or more gas injection tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned perpendicular to the upstream side of the damping heating unit, the one or more gas injection tubes input gas into the furnace channel. The glass redraw system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one of the one or more gas injection tubes structurally configured as described above. A supply unit that is engageable with the furnace inlet and is configured to suspend a preform glass plate in the furnace channel, wherein the supply unit includes a glass hanger system, the glass hanger system.
One or more hanging shafts coupled to a glass holding base having a glass clamp engageable with a preform glass plate, a hanger driving system, and the glass holding base and extending between the hanger driving system and the glass holding base. The hanger drive system is structurally configured to translate the glass sandwiching base and the one or more hanging shafts along a portion of a redraw path extending across the furnace channel. With one or more of the above hanging shafts,
A hanger cover that covers the furnace inlet of the furnace housing and is engageable with the furnace housing, including the hanger cover in which the one or more hanging shafts extend through the hanger cover. The glass redraw system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the supply unit. The glass redraw system of claim 2, wherein the one or more pairs of electric rollers are pivotable around the roller joint in the longitudinal direction away from the edges of the redraw path extending through the furnace channel. A recovery roller assembly comprising one or more pairs of electric rollers positioned between the furnace outlet and the recovery unit, wherein the one or more pairs of electric rollers are engageable with the glass plate. The recovery roller assembly, which is adjacent to the redraw path so as to apply vertical tension to the glass plate, is further provided.
The one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the recovery roller assembly each include a roller shaft that includes a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and each roller shaft is the first shaft end. It is mechanically engaged with the roller drive system at the section and coupled to the roller cylinder at the end of the second shaft.
The glass redraw system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each roller cylinder of the one or more electric roller pairs of the rollers of the recovery roller assembly comprises a polymer material. In the method of attenuating the preform glass plate,
A step of suspending a preform glass plate into a redraw furnace using a supply unit, wherein the redraw furnace is
A furnace housing with a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet,
The step, which comprises a plurality of heating units coupled to the furnace enclosure and structurally configured to output heat to the furnace enclosure.
A step of heating the preform glass plate using the plurality of heating units so that at least a part of the preform glass plate is heated to a softening temperature.
The first surface and the second surface of the preform glass plate are engaged with a damping roller assembly extending in a transport direction to the furnace channel at a position downstream of one or more damping heating units of the plurality of heating units. In this step, the damping roller assembly vertically extends to an angle of −α with respect to the lateral (X) axis in the downstream direction, and vertically to the lateral (X) axis in the upstream direction. On the other hand, a step that can be pivotally moved around the roller joint up to an angle of + α,
Vertical tension is applied by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the damping roller assembly so that the thickness of the preform glass plate is dampened as the preform glass plate translates in the transport direction. A method comprising applying a step to a glass plate. With the recovery roller assembly in which the first surface of the preform glass plate and the glass drawn from the second surface are positioned downstream of both the damping roller assembly and the furnace outlet in the transport direction. With the steps to engage,
A step of disengaging the damping roller assembly from the preform glass plate when the preform glass plate is engaged with the recovery roller assembly.
A step of applying vertical tension to the preform glass plate by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the recovery roller assembly, wherein the one or more roller cylinders of the recovery roller assembly are in speed mode. Rotate with the above steps and
8. The method of claim 8. The supply unit includes a glass hanger system, wherein the glass hanger system
A glass holding base with a glass clamp that can engage with a preform glass plate,
One or more hanging shafts coupled to the hanger drive system and the glass holding base and extending between the hanger driving system and the glass holding base.
Including
The hanger drive system is structurally configured to translate the glass sandwiching base and the one or more suspension shafts along a portion of a redraw path that extends through the furnace channel.
The method translates the glass holding base and the preform glass plate in the transport direction, and when the preform glass plate is engaged with the damping roller assembly, the glass holding base and the preform glass plate The method of claim 8 or 9, further comprising the step of stopping the translation of. Claims 8 to 10, wherein when the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel, the one or more damping heating units output heat at a higher temperature than the one or more remaining heating units. The method described in any one of the items.

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