KR20180080353A - Methods of forming thin glass sheets using glass lead low system and glass lead low system - Google Patents

Abstract

The glass reed-low system includes a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, an attenuation heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure, a preheating zone positioned between the furnace inlet and the attenuation heating unit, And a lead-lower furnace having an annealing region located between the furnace outlet and the attenuation heating unit. The glass lead-low system is coupled to the furnace enclosure and is operatively connected to the preheating zone or the annealing zone to suppress heat transfer along the furnace channel between one of the preheating zone or the annealing zone and the attenuation zone. And one or more column change gates extending into the furnace channel between one and the attenuation heating region.

Description

Methods of forming thin glass sheets using glass lead low system and glass lead low system

The embodiments described herein generally relate to glass lead-redraw systems and methods of forming thin glass sheets using glass lead-low systems.

Cross reference of related application

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/260792, filed November 30, 2015, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The glass sheet can be formed using various processes. For example, a glass sheet is a fusion down draw process. A slot down draw process, a float process, or the like. Further, the glass sheets may be thinned using an etching or polishing process to reduce the thickness of the glass sheets. However, there is a need for alternative methods of forming thin glass sheets.

The problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a method of forming thin glass sheets using a glass lead low system and a glass lead low system.

In some embodiments, the glass lead-low system comprises a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, an attenuation heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure, a location between the furnace inlet and the attenuation heating unit, And a lead-lower furnace having an annealing region located between the furnace outlet and the attenuation heating unit. Wherein the glass lead-in system is coupled to the furnace enclosure and extends into the furnace channel between one of the preheated region or the annealing region and the attenuation heating unit to form the preheated region or the preheated region or the annealing region And one or more heat exchange gates for inhibiting heat transfer along the furnace channel between one and the attenuation heating unit.

In some embodiments, the glass lead low system includes a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, and an attunement heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure and structurally configured to output heat into the furnace enclosure The branch includes a lead low furnace. A lead-low path extends through the furnace channel. Further, the attenuation roller assembly includes a pair of rollers extending into the furnace channel at a position downstream of the attenuation heating unit in the transport direction and having power, and the pair of rollers having the power are connected to the lead- And a retracted position remote from the lead-low path. In addition, the pair of rollers having the power engage with the preformed glass sheet to apply a normal tension to the preformed glass sheet.

In some other embodiments, a method of thinning a preformed glass sheet includes tentering a preformed glass sheet in the lead-lined furnace using a supply unit. The lead furnace includes a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, and a plurality of heating units coupled to the furnace enclosure and structured to output heat into the furnace enclosure. The method includes heating the preformed glass sheet using a plurality of heating units so that at least a portion of the preformed glass sheet is heated to a softening temperature (or a temperature near the softening temperature at which the glass can be drawn) Combining the first and second surfaces of the preformed glass sheet with an attuning roller assembly extending into the furnace channel at a location downstream of one or more attenuation heating units of the plurality of heating units in a transport direction ; And rotating the one or more roller cylinders of the ATT agitating roller assembly such that the thickness of the preformed glass sheet is reduced as the preformed glass sheet moves in the transport direction (i. E., The glass sheet is drawn) And applying a vertical tension to the preformed glass sheet.

These and further features provided by embodiments of the present disclosure will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

The embodiments shown in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the disclosure. The following detailed description of illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like structure is represented by like reference numerals.
1 schematically depicts a cross-section of a glass lead-low system including a lead-lower furnace, a lead-low drive system, and a collecting unit in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
Figure 2 schematically illustrates a preformed glass sheet according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
Figure 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the lead-lower furnace of Figure 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
FIG. 4 illustrates the lead low furnace of FIG. 1 including a plurality of first heating units in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein.
5 schematically illustrates a plurality of components of the glass lead-low system communicatively coupled to a lead-low system controller and the lead-low system controller.
Figure 6 schematically illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the lead row furnace of Figure 1 and two row change gates coupled to the lead row furnace in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
Figure 7 illustrates a graphical representation of an exemplary temperature gradient of the lead-lower furnace of Figure 1 along a lead-low path, in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a glass hanger system of the lead-low drive system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
Figure 9 schematically illustrates a glass clamping base of the glass hanger system of Figure 8 in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
FIG. 10 schematically illustrates the lead-lower furnace of FIG. 1, including a plurality of roller assemblies of the lead-low drive system, in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.
Figure 11 schematically illustrates a top view of an exemplary roller assembly of the lead-lower furnace and the lead-low drive system of Figure 1, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.
Figure 12 schematically illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary roller assembly having rotatable rollers in accordance with one or more embodiments shown and described herein.

Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for thinning a preformed glass sheet using a glass lead-low system. In some embodiments, the glass lead-low system includes a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, and a plurality of heating units coupled to the furnace enclosure so as to output heat into the furnace channel. And a lead-lower furnace having the plurality of heating units. In some embodiments, the glass lead-low system further includes a lead-low path extending through the furnace channel and extending between the furnace inlet and the collecting unit. In some embodiments, the lead low furnace further includes a plurality of furnace regions including an attenuation region having one or more attenuation heating units. In operation, when the plurality of heating units output heat into the furnace channel, the one or more attenuation heating units output heat at a higher temperature than other heating units coupled to the furnace inflorator, The preformed glass sheet across the path may be heated to a softening temperature in the attenuation zone and in some embodiments may have a range of temperatures at which the viscosity of the preformed glass sheet is increased sufficiently to be led down , Which may be a temperature somewhat below the softening temperature. The glass lead-down system comprising a glass supply system for hanging the preformed glass sheet in the furnace channel and a prefabricated glass sheet positioned along the lead path and guiding the preformed glass sheet through the furnace enclosure, And a plurality of roller assemblies for applying a tensile force to thin the thickness of the preformed glass sheet. The various systems and methods for thinning a preformed glass sheet using a glass lead-low system will be described in greater detail herein with particular reference to corresponding figures.

As used herein, the term "longitudinal" refers to the front-rear thickness direction of the glass lead low system. For example, the longitudinal direction extends between the first and second surface walls of the lead-lined furnace described herein, and when the preformed glass sheet traverses the lead-low path, the first And the second surfaces (i.e., +/- Y directions as shown). The term "lateral" refers to the front-rear width direction of the glass lead-in system. For example, the lateral direction extends between the first and second edge walls of the lead row furnace described herein, and when the preformed glass sheet traverses the lead low path, Extends between the first and second edges (i.e., +/- X direction as shown), and crosses the longitudinal direction. The term "vertical direction" refers to the upward-downward direction of the glass lead-down system (i.e., +/- Z direction as shown), and transverse to the lateral and longitudinal directions.

1, a glass lead low system 100 includes a lead low drive system 300 including a lead low furnace 200, a feed unit 310 and a plurality of roller assemblies 330, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 400 < / RTI > The lead-low path 102 extends through the lead -low furnace 200, for example, through the furnace channel 216 and ends at the collecting unit 400. As used herein, "downstream" and "upstream" are relative terms indicating the relative position of components along the lead path 102. For example, if the first component is closer to the acquisition unit 400 along the lead path 102 than the second component, the first component is "downstream" of the second component, Two components are "upstream" of the first component. In operation, a preformed glass sheet 110 can be moved in the transport direction 104 along the lead low path 102 through the lead low furnace 200, which heats the preformed glass sheet 110 have. Further, the lead -low driving system 300 is engaged with the preformed glass sheet 110 to transfer the glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 to the furnace inlet 230 along the lead- Collecting unit (400). As the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom are heated by the lead low furnace, the thickness T and width W of the resulting glass sheet (FIG. 2) 300 by the pulling forces exerted by it.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the preformed glass sheet 110 may be formed from any of the exemplary glass sheets, for example, soda lime glass, fused silica glass, Corning® Gorilla® glass available from Corning, For example, Corning Code 2319), Corning® Eagle XG®, Corning® Lotus® Glass, and the like. The preformed glass sheet 110 may be formed using any glass manufacturing process, such as a fusion draw process, a slot draw process, a down draw process, an up draw process, a float process, or the like. The preformed glass sheet 110 includes a first surface 112 opposite the second surface 112 and a first edge 116 opposite the second edge 118. The first and second surfaces 112, 114 extend between the first and second edges and are each substantially planar in some embodiments. The preformed glass sheet 110 also includes a lateral center 115 located substantially intermediate between the first edge 116 and the second edge 118. The thickness T of the glass sheet 110 can be measured longitudinally between the first surface 112 and the second surface 114 and the thickness T of the pre- W may be measured laterally between the first edge 116 and the second edge 118. It should be understood that the preformed glass sheet 110 may include any glass composition and any size. The preformed glass sheet 110 may be formed as a spool that is unwound and feeds the preformed glass sheet 110 into the furnace channel 216 of the lead row furnace 220 . In addition, the preformed glass sheet 110 may be a laminated glass sheet comprising two or more droplets of glass.

In some embodiments, the thickness (T) of the preformed glass sheet 110 is from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, before the glass is drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 and crosses the lead low path 102 5 mm. The glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 and traversing the lead path may have a thickness of about 10 urn to about 500 urn, such as about 10 urn to about 480 urn, about 10 urn to about 460 urn, about 10 urn to about 440 urn, From about 10 microns to about 300 microns, from about 10 microns to about 280 microns, from about 10 microns to about 300 microns, from about 10 microns to about 400 microns, from about 10 microns to about 380 microns, from about 10 microns to about 360 microns, From about 10 탆 to about 120 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 120 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 200 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 240 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 220 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 200 탆, From about 10 탆 to about 500 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 80 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 60 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 40 탆, from about 10 탆 to about 20 탆, from about 20 탆 to about 500 탆, To about 500 about 200 μm to about 500 μm, about 240 μm to about 500 μm, about 260 μm to about 500 μm, about 120 μm to about 500 μm, about 140 μm to about 500 μm, about 160 μm to about 500 μm, about 180 μm to about 500 μm, From about 300 袖 m to about 500 袖 m, from about 300 袖 m to about 500 袖 m, from about 320 袖 m to about 500 袖 m, from about 320 袖 m to about 500 袖 m, from about 340 袖 m to about 500 袖 m, from about 360 袖 m to about 500 袖 m, From about 40 microns to about 440 microns, from about 80 microns to about 420 microns, from about 100 microns to about 400 microns, from about 120 microns to about 500 microns, from about 460 microns to about 500 microns, from about 480 microns to about 500 microns, from about 20 microns to about 480 microns, About 200 to about 300, about 280 to about 280, about 240 to about 260, about 25, 50, 100, 200, um, Lt; / RTI > For example, the thickness T of the preformed glass sheet 110 is drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 before the glass is drawn therefrom and traversed the lead low path 102, Is about 5 to about 10 times larger than the thickness (T) of the glass across the window (102). Further, the width W of the glass drawn from the pre-formed glass sheet 110 may be changed as it traverses the lead low path 102.

1 and 3, the lead-lower furnace 200 includes a first surface wall 222 facing the second surface wall 224, a first edge wall 228 opposite the second edge wall 228, And a furnace enclosure 210 having a furnace wall 226 and a furnace channel 216 located between the first and second surface walls 222,224 and the first and second edge walls 226,228. do. In some embodiments, the furnace enclosure 210 may include one or more thermal insulation materials, such as alumina-silica, silica, zirconia substrate fiber board, silica block, mullite block, quartz, glass- Ceramics, and the like. The furnace enclosure 210 includes a furnace inlet 230 located at an inlet end 212 of the lead low furnace 200 and a furnace outlet 232 located at an outlet end 214 of the lead low furnace 200. [ . In operation, the furnace enclosure 210 may help maintain a controlled environment within the lead-down furnace 200. For example, in some embodiments, the furnace enclosure 210 includes a clean room and / or an inert gas atmosphere therein.

The lead path 102 extends through the furnace channel 216 and ends at the collecting unit 400. In operation, the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom can travel through the lead -low furnace 200 in the transport direction 104 along the lead-low path 102. As the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom travel through the furnace enclosure 210 along the lead pathway 102 the first surface 112 of the preformed glass sheet 110 May be opposed to the first surface wall 222 and the glass from the second surface 114 may face the second surface wall 224 and the first edge 116 May be opposed to the first edge wall 226 and the glass from the second edge 118 may be opposed to the second edge wall 228. [ Although the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom have been described as traversing the lead low path 102 in a particular direction, this need not be the case and the preformed glass sheet 110 and the drawn glass It is to be understood that the lead-through path 102 may have a different direction while traversing the lead-down path 102.

3, the lead-lower furnace 200 may also include a temporary furnace inlet cover 234 and a temporary furnace outlet cover 236, each removably connected to the furnace enclosure 210 To cover the furnace inlet 230 and the furnace outlet 232, respectively. In operation, the temporary furnace inlet cover 234 and the temporary furnace outlet cover 236 may be removed during the preheating process, for example, before the preformed glass sheet 110 is introduced into the furnace channel 216 And may be coupled to the furnace enclosure 210. After the preheating process, the supply unit 310 is coupled to the lead -low furnace 200 at the furnace inlet 230 and the preformed glass sheet 110 is injected into the furnace channel 216 to inject the preformed glass sheet 110 into the furnace channel 216. The furnace inlet cover 234 can be removed. When the supply unit 310 is coupled with the lead -low furnace 200, the preformed glass sheet 110 and the drawn glass therefrom are passed through the furnace outlet 232, across the lead- The temporary furnace outlet cover 236 may be removed to exit the furnace channel 216.

1 and 4, the lead-lower furnace 200 includes a plurality of furnace regions 240, for example, a staging region 242, a preheating region 244, an attenuation region 242, (246), and an anneal region (248). In some embodiments, one or more heating units 250a, 250b may be positioned between the preheating zone 244, the attenuation zone 246, and portions of the furnace enclosure 210 within the annealing zone 248 Lt; / RTI > For example, the one or more heating units may include a plurality of first heating units 250a coupled to and vertically spaced from the first surface wall 222 and coupled to the second surface wall 224, And a plurality of second heating units 250b vertically spaced apart from each other. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the heating units 252a, 245a, 256a, 258a, 260a, 262a, 264a of the plurality of first heating units 250a and the plurality of second heating units Each of the heating units 252b, 254b, 256b, 258b, 260b, 262b, 264b of the first and second surface walls 250a, 250b may be located at common vertical positions along the first and second surface walls 222, And can be opposed to each other. The plurality of first and second heating units 250a and 250b are positioned and structurally configured to output heat into the furnace channel 216, respectively. In operation, when the preformed glass sheet 110 is positioned in the furnace channel 216, and when the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 is traversing the reedlow path 102, The heat output by the plurality of first and second heating units 250a and 250b varies the temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110 and the temperature of the drawn glass, Thereby facilitating attenuation of the thickness T of the glass drawn from the glass.

The glass lead low system 100 may further include a lead low system controller 150, as schematically shown in FIG. The lead -low system controller 150 may include any of a variety of exemplary computing devices and may be configured to receive information and to store information such as, for example, RAM, ROM, flash memory, hard drives, Includes any processing component configured to execute machine-readable instructions from one or more memory modules 156, including any device capable of storing machine-readable instructions so as to be accessible by processors 152 (Not shown). Each of the one or more processors 152 may be a controller, an integrated circuit, a microchip, a computer, or any other computing device.

Further, the one or more processors 152 and the one or more memory modules 156 are coupled to a communication path 154. As used herein, the term "communicatively coupled" means that coupled components communicate data signals to each other, for example, electrical signals through a conductive medium, electromagnetic signals through air, Optical signals and the like can be exchanged. Thus, the infeed path 154 may be formed of any medium capable of transmitting signals, for example, conductive wires, conductive traces, optical wave guides, and the like. In some embodiments, the communication path 154 may enable transmission of wireless signals, e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, and the like. In addition, the communication path 154 may be formed from a combination of mediums capable of transmitting signals.

5, the lead -low system controller 150 includes the lead -low furnace 200 including the plurality of first and second heating units 250a and 250b, the supply unit 310 And the plurality of roller assemblies 330, and the collecting unit 400, and may be communicatively coupled to the collecting unit 400, for example, the communication path 154 And thus can transmit or receive signals on each of them. Further, the lead-down system controller 150 may be operable to determine, based on instructions stored in the one or more memory modules 156 and / or received by the lead-low system controller 150, for example, May provide signals in response to user input received by input devices 158, e.g., tactile or acoustical input devices. For example, the lead row system controller 150 may control the amount of heat output by each heating unit of the plurality of heating units 250a and 250b, for example, And may provide communication signals to the plurality of first and second heating units 250a, 250b to control the temperature within the first and second heating units 250a, 250b.

For ease of understanding, the plurality of first and second heating units 250a, 250b and the furnace regions 240 are hereinafter referred to as the first plurality of first surface walls 222, Will be described in more detail with respect to heating units 250a. The description of each individual heating unit of the plurality of first heating units 250a is identical to that of each of the individual heating units of the plurality of first heating units 250a, for example, To the corresponding individual heating units of the plurality of second heating units 250b located in the vertical position of the second heating units 250b.

Referring again to FIG. 4, each individual heating unit of the plurality of first heating units 250a includes a plurality of heating elements 250a 'positioned laterally adjacent along each respective heating unit . In operation, each heating element 250a 'of the plurality of first heating units 250a is responsive to signals received from, for example, the reedlow system controller 150, And may be configured to output heat at possible temperatures. In some embodiments, the heating elements 250a 'of an individual heating unit may uniformly output heat, and in some embodiments, each heating element 250a' (FIG. 2) as the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom traverse the lead low path 102. The preformed glass sheet 110 can be heated to a predetermined temperature, The vertically adjacent portions of the first and second surfaces 112 and 114 of the first and second edges 118 and 118 and the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 are positioned between the first edge 116 and the second edge 118, To different temperatures. Further, the heating elements 250a 'may include any exemplary heating device, for example, a resistance heater, such as a molybdenum secondary fired heater, an induction heater, or combinations thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, the staging area 242 may be located adjacent the furnace inlet 230 between the furnace inlet 230 and the preheating zone 224. In the staging area 242, the furnace enclosure 210 may include an insulator and, in some embodiments, may not include any heating units. In operation, the staging area 242 is positioned between the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom along the lead pathway 102 to the preheating zone 244, the attenuation zone 246, Providing a holding position for the preformed glass sheet 110 before traversing the annealing region 248. In alternate embodiments, the lead-lower furnace 200 does not include the staging area 242. [

The preheating zone 244 may be located between the staging zone 242 and the attenuation zone 246 and upstream of and adjacent to the attenuation zone 246 so that the preformed glass sheet 110 And glass drawn therefrom may traverse the lead-low path 102 in the transport direction 104 from the preheating region 224 to the attenuation region 246. The lead- In the embodiments shown in FIG. 4, the preheated region 244 includes a first preheat unit 252a positioned vertically adjacent to the second preheat unit 254a. Although two preheat units 252a and 254a are shown along the first surface wall 222, the preheat zone 244 can include any number of preheat units. Further, each of the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a may include one or more heating elements 252a ', 254a', 252a '', 254a '', 252a '' ', and 254a' . For example, each of the first and second preheating units 252a, 254a may include a first edge heating element 252a ', 254a' and a second edge heating element 252a "', 254a" And a central heating element 252a ", 254a " Although three heating elements are shown in each of the first and second heating units 252a and 254a, each heating unit 252a and 254a may include any number of heating elements.

In operation, the first preheating unit 252a can output heat at a lower temperature than the second preheating unit 254a, but any heat output is sketched. In some embodiments, the first preheating unit 252a may be configured to output heat at about 600 ° C to about 700 ° C, for example about 625 ° C, 650 ° C, 675 ° C, When the sheet 110 is positioned in the lead pathway 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the first preheating units 252a, the first and second surfaces of the preformed glass sheet 110 Lt; / RTI > may include temperatures ranging from about 400 < 0 > C to about 500 < 0 > C, e.g., about 425, 450, 475, Further, each heating element 252a'-252a '' 'of the first preliminary heating unit 252a can output heat at uniform temperatures or at different temperatures. For example, in some embodiments, the central heating element 252a ' ' of the first pre-heating unit 252a is connected to the first and second edge heating elements 252a ' Can output heat at higher temperatures than the respective heaters 252a 'and 252a' ''. However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are envisioned.

In 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, (FIG. 2) of the preformed glass sheet 110 (FIG. 2) when the first preheating unit 254a and the second preheating unit 254a are positioned in the lead-low path 102 longitudinally adjacent to the second preheating unit 254a. The longitudinally adjacent portions of the heaters 112 and 114 may include temperatures of about 600 ° C to about 700 ° C, for example, about 625 ° C, 650 ° C, 675 ° C, and the like. Further, each heating element 254a'-254a '' 'of the second preheat unit 254a can output heat at uniform temperatures or at different temperatures. For example, in some embodiments, the central heating element 254a ' ' of the first preheat unit 254a is connected to the first and second edge heating elements 254a of the second preheat unit 254a, Can output heat at higher temperatures than the respective ones 254a 'and 254a' ''. However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are envisioned.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the attenuation region 246 is located between the preheating region 244 and the annealing region 248, adjacent to the annealing region 248, The drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 may traverse the leadway path 102 from the attenuation region 246 to the annealing region 248 in the transport direction 104. 4, the attenuation zone 246 includes an attenuation heating unit 256a comprising five attenuation heating elements 256a'-256a '' '' '. For example, the attenuation heating unit 256a may include a first intermediate attenuation heating element 256a '' positioned between the central attenuation heating element 256a '' 'and the first edge attenuation heating element 256a' And a second intermediate attenuation heating element 256a '' '' located between the center attenuation heating element 256a '' 'and the second edge attenuation heating element 256a' '' .

Figure 4 shows an exemplary attenuation zone 246 comprising a single attenuation heating unit 256a having five attenuation heating elements 256a'-256a '' '' ' It is to be understood that region 246 may include any number of vertically adjacent attenuation heating units 256a, each including any number of laterally adjacent attenuation heating elements. Further, in some embodiments, the attenuation heating unit 256a includes a vertical height of about 1 inch to about 12 inches, such as 2 inches, 4 inches, 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, , Which may be less than the vertical height of each of the preheating units 252a, 254a and each of the annealing heating units 258a-264a described below.

In some embodiments, the attenuation heating unit 256a may output heat at a higher temperature than the first and second preheating units 252a, 254a, but any heat output is conceivable. In some embodiments, the attenuation heating unit 256a can output heat at about 1300 ° C to about 1700 ° C, for example, about 1400 ° C, 1500 ° C, 1600 ° C, ) Of the preformed glass sheet 110 when the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 is positioned in the lead pathway 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent the attenuation heating unit 256a 112, and 114 may include temperatures of about 900 캜 to about 1300 캜, such as about 1000 캜, 1100 캜, 1200 캜, and the like. Further, each attenuation heating element 256a'-256a '' '' 'of the attenuation heating unit 256a can output heat at uniform temperatures or at different temperatures. For example, in one embodiment, the center attenuation heating element 256a '' 'is larger than each of the first and second edge attenuation heating elements 256a' and 256a '' '' ' 1 and the second intermediate prolative heating elements 256a ", 256a " ", respectively. However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are envisioned.

In operation, the attunement heating unit 256a heats the portions of the preformed glass sheet 110 in the attenuation zone 246 to a softening temperature and, in some embodiments, may be less than the softening temperature, The preformed glass sheet is heated to within a range of temperatures at which the viscosity increases. At a temperature at which the softening temperature or viscosity is less than the softening temperature, the preformed glass sheet 110 is viscous and the pulling force exerted by the lead-low drive system 300, as described below, The thickness T of the formed glass sheet 110 can be reduced. Further, the softening temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110 may be lower than the gobbing temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110, for example, the temperature at which the preformed glass sheet 110 starts to ice have. It will be appreciated that different embodiments of the preformed glass sheet 110 may include different softening temperatures. For example, the thickness and composition of the preformed glass sheet 110 may change the softening temperature of the preformed glass sheet.

1 and 4, the annealing region 248 is located upstream and adjacent to the furnace exit 232 between the attenuation zone 246 and the furnace outlet 232, The glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 may traverse the lead pathway 102 from the annealing region 248 to the furnace outlet 232 in the transport direction 104. 1 and 4, the annealing region 248 includes a plurality of annealing heating units, for example, four annealing heating units 258a, 260a, 262a, and 264a. The first annealing heating unit 258a is vertically adjacent and downstream to the attenuation zone 246 and the second annealing heating unit 260a is vertically adjacent to the first annealing heating unit 258a and downstream The third annealing heating unit 262a is positioned vertically adjacent and downstream to the second annealing unit 260a and the fourth annealing heating unit 264a is positioned adjacent to the third annealing heating unit 262a Vertically adjacent and downstream. Although four annealing heating units are shown, it should be understood that any number of annealing heating units are envisioned.

Further, each annealing heating unit may comprise a plurality of annealing heating elements. For example, each of the annealing heating units 258a-264a includes a respective first edge annealing heating element 258a'-264a '' and a respective second edge annealing heating element 258a '' '264a' And a central annealing heating element 258a " - 264a " It should be understood that although three annealing heating elements are shown in each of the annealing heating units 258a-264a, it is understood that each of the annealing heating units 258a-264a may include any number of annealing heating elements . Further, each annealing heating element of each annealing heating unit 258a-264a can output heat at uniform temperatures or at different temperatures. For example, in some embodiments, the central annealing heating elements 258a '' - 264a '' of each annealing heating unit 258a-264a may include a plurality of annealing heating elements 258a-264a ' Can output heat at a temperature greater than the temperature of the heat output by the first edge annealing heating element 258a'-264a 'and each of the second edge annealing heating elements 258a "-264a' '' . However, it should be understood that other relative heat output combinations are envisioned.

The first annealing heating unit 258a is capable of heating at a higher temperature than each subsequent downstream annealing heating unit (e.g., the second, third, and fourth annealing heating units 260a-264a) So that the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 can be gradually cooled as it traverses the reedlow path 102. [ For example, the first annealing heating unit 258a may be configured to output heat of about 1000 ° C to about 1300 ° C, for example about 1050 ° C, 1150 ° C, 1250 ° C, When the glass drawn from the first annealing heating unit 110 is positioned in the lead low path 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the first annealing heating unit 258a, Glass drawn from the longitudinally adjacent portions of the surfaces 112, 114 may include temperatures of about 750 ° C to about 950 ° C, for example, about 800 ° C, 862 ° C, 900 ° C, and the like.

The second annealing heating unit 260a is capable of outputting heat at a higher temperature than each subsequent downstream annealing heating unit (e.g., the third and fourth annealing heating units 262a-264a) have. For example, the second annealing heating unit 260a may be configured to output heat of about 900 ° C to about 1200 ° C, for example about 975 ° C, 1022 ° C, 1100 ° C, When the glass drawn from the first annealing heating unit 110 is positioned in the lead low path 102 longitudinally adjacent to the second annealing heating unit 260a, Glass drawn from the longitudinally adjacent portions of the surfaces 112, 114 may include temperatures from about 650 ° C to about 850 ° C, for example, about 700 ° C, 722 ° C, 800 ° C, and the like.

The third annealing heating unit 262a can output heat at a higher temperature than each subsequent downstream annealing heating unit (e.g., the fourth annealing heating unit 264a). For example, the third annealing heating unit 262a may be configured to output heat at about 800 ° C to about 1100 ° C, for example about 850 ° C, 935 ° C, 1000 ° C, When the glass drawn from the first annealing heating unit 110 is positioned in the reed low path 102 longitudinally adjacent to the third annealing heating unit 262a, Glass drawn from said longitudinally adjacent portions of surfaces 112 and 114 may include temperatures of about 550 ° C to about 750 ° C, for example, about 600 ° C, 635 ° C, 650 ° C, 700 ° C, have.

In some embodiments, the fourth annealing heating unit 264a is configured to output heat of about 700 ° C to about 1000 ° C, for example about 750 ° C, 800 ° C, 845 ° C, 900 ° C, 950 ° C, And when the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 is positioned in the lead pathway 102 in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the fourth annealing heating unit 264a, The glass drawn from the longitudinally adjacent portions of the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the substrate 110 may be heated to a temperature of from about 550 캜 to about 650 캜, such as about 500 캜, 545 캜, Temperature. Further, in some embodiments, the temperature in the furnace channel 216 at the furnace outlet 232 may be between about 125 캜 and about 325 캜, such as about 150 캜, 200 캜, 300 캜, and the like have.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the glass lead-down system 100 includes a first surface wall 222, a second surface wall 224, One or more thermal spreaders 130 coupled to one or more of the first edge wall 226, the second edge wall 228, and / or coupled to one or more of the plurality of heating units 250 The one or more thermal spreaders 130 may include blocks of a high thermal conductivity material, for example silicon carbide, copper or platinum, which functions to evenly distribute heat within the glass lead low system. have. The individual thermal spreaders 130 may be located in the preheating region 244, the attenuation region 246, and / or the annealing region 248, for example, through the lead low furnace 200, . In operation, each heat spreader 130 uniformly extends along the heat spreader 130, for example along the surface of the heat spreader 130 toward the furnace channel 216, (250). ≪ / RTI > When the individual thermal spreaders 130 are positioned adjacent to the individual heating units, the thermal spreader 130 can uniformly distribute heat along the heating units to manage the thermal gradients in the lateral and vertical directions do. Further, in operation, the one or more heat spreaders 130 may be disposed at respective locations (not shown) within the adjacent furnace channels 216 of the heating elements of each of the plurality of first and second heating units 250a, A uniform temperature can be maintained. Some alternative embodiments of the glass lead low system 100 may not include the 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 sheet made from the preformed glass sheet 110. That is, in operation, the thermal spreaders 130 function to evenly distribute the heat across the width of the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom, which results in a thickness over the width of the drawn sheet Uniformity and a uniform stress profile. An even distribution of heat is particularly advantageous in the attenuation zone 246 in which thickness variations and stresses are generated into the glass sheet as the glass sheet moves through its point-elastic zones. Again, in some embodiments, the height of the attenuation zone 246 may be increased to advantageously affect the thickness uniformity and low stress profile of the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom It is advantageous to have the height (Z direction dimension) of the one or more heat spreaders 130 that fit.

1 and 6, the glass leadlow system 100 further includes one or more thermal change gates 120a, 120b coupled to the furnace enclosure 210 and extending into the furnace channel 216 . Each thermal change gate 120a, 120b includes a first gate portion 122a, 122b coupled to the first surface wall 222 of the furnace enclosure 210 and a second gate portion 122a, And a second portion 124a, 124b coupled to the wall 224. In some embodiments, the one or more thermal change gates 120a, 120b are slidably coupled to the furnace enclosure such that the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a, For example, between the retracted position 126 and the extended position 128. In the extended position 128, the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a and 124b are located in the furnace channel 216 and are longitudinally adjacent to the lead path 102 It ends. In the retracted position 126, the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b are raised from the furnace channel 216 to define, for example, (222, 224) and, in some embodiments, retracted into the first and second surface walls (222, 224). It should be understood that the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, and 124a, 124b may also be located 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 and the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b extend into the furnace channel 216 and terminate in a longitudinally adjacent manner to the lead low path 102.

In operation, the thermal change gates 120a and 120b change the heat transfer through the furnace channel 216 in the vertical direction. When the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a and 124b are located in the furnace channel 216, for example, at the extended position 128, the thermal change gate 120 Thereby limiting heat transfer through the column change gate 120 in the vertical direction. It is contemplated that the one or more thermal change gates 120a, b may be comprised of any material suitable to provide thermal insulation between the furnace regions 240. [ For example, the one or more thermal change gates 120a, 120b may comprise a metal or refractory material, such as Haynes 230 (TM) high temperature material available from Hanes International, Kokomo, Indiana What can be done is envisaged. In some embodiments, the material in the water preformed glass sheet 110, or in the portions of the thermal change gates that are opposed to the glass drawn therefrom, can be a good thermal conductor, so that the thickness variation of the glass sheet and / Reduce stress. In some embodiments, the thermal change gates 120a, b are configured to provide heat conduction in the vertical direction (e.g., the Z direction) to help them provide good thermal control, particularly in the attenuation region 246. In some embodiments, (I. E., Capable of being slidable or otherwise movable between retracted and retracted positions) so long as it functions to limit the retraction of the retracted position.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 6, the one or more column change gates 120a, 120b include an upstream column change gate 120a and a downstream column change gate 120b. The upstream heat exchange gate 120a is connected between the preheating zone 244 and the attenuation zone 246 for example between the second preheat units 254a and 254b and the attenuation heating units 244a, (256a, 256b). The downstream thermal change gate 120b may be formed between the annealing region 248 and the attenuation region 246 such as between the attenuation heating units 256a and 256b and the first annealing heating units 258a, 258b. It should be understood that any number of column change gates 120a, b may be envisioned.

In operation, the upstream heat exchange gate 120a may control and prevent heat transfer between the preheating region 244 and the attenuation region 246, and the downstream heat exchange gate 120b may be located between the annealing region (248) and the attenuation zone (246). When the upstream and downstream row change gates 120a and 120b are positioned within the furnace channel 216, for example, at the extended position 128, the lead pathway 102 ) And the gap between each of the first and second gate portions 122a, 122b, 124a and 124b is greater than the gap between the attenuation region 246 and the preheating region 244 and / Limiting the heat transfer between one or both of the annealing regions 248 will be suppressed. By controlling the heat transfer, the thermal change gates 120a and 120b can be formed by a sharp temperature gradient between the preheating region 244 and the attenuation region 246 and a thermal gradient between the annealing region 248 and the attenuation region 246 246). ≪ / RTI >

In operation, abrupt temperature gradients are generated as the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom traverse the lead low path 102 through the attenuation zone 246, ) Of the thickness T of the light-shielding film. Further, the thermal change gates 120a and 120b may be formed within the attenuation region 246 by limiting the heat outflow between the attenuation region 246 and the preheating region 244 and the annealing region 248, The amount of power required to achieve the desired temperatures can be reduced. Further, the combination of the one or more thermal spreaders 130 and the upstream and downstream thermal change gates 120a, 120b located in the attenuation zone 246 may cause the pre-formed glass sheet 110 and the draw- The first and second surfaces 112,114 of the preformed glass sheet 110 and the drawn glass from the first and second surfaces 112,114 as the glass is transverse to the attenuation region 246. [ It is possible to generate a narrowed < RTI ID = 0.0 > attenuation < / RTI >

Referring now to FIG. 7, an exemplary vertical temperature gradient 500 along the lead path 102 of the lead-down furnace 200 is graphically depicted. In particular, Figure 7 schematically depicts the estimated heating unit temperature 502 in each of the individual heating units 250a, 250b (e.g., heating units 252a-264a) along the lead- And schematically illustrates the estimated temperature 504 along the lead path 102 of the pre-formed glass sheet and / or the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet. 7, the temperature of the lead -low furnace 200 increases from the preheating region 244 along the lead -low path 102 to the attenuation region 246, 102) through the annealing region (248). 7 further illustrates the first and second preheating units 252a and 254a, the attenuating heating unit 256a, the first, second, third, And fourth annealing heating units 258a-264a, upstream and downstream row change gates 120a and 120b.

In some embodiments, it is advantageous for the preformed glass sheet 110 to have a narrow band (in the transport direction 104) heated to the viscous state in the attenuation zone 246. Such a narrow band may be produced by promoting a strong but short thermal spike which may result in the thickness direction of the glass sheet 110 drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 from the preformed glass sheet 110 to a desired thickness 0.0 > (T). ≪ / RTI > In other words, it is easier to control the narrower of the attenuation zones 246 to have a uniform heat distribution with a lower thickness variation in the drawn glass sheet. The distribution of heat in the attenuation zone 246 is controlled by controlling the heating elements of the attenuation heating units 256a and 265b, controlling the thermal distribution using the thermal spreaders 130, (E. G., Using gas extraction tubes 280 (see FIG. 3)) in the channel 216, and to control the flow of the heat through the furnace channel 216, Lt; / RTI > may be controlled by a number of factors, including using insulating gates,

Further, there is attenuation in the reduced undesired width direction W of the drawn glass sheet formed from the preformed glass sheet 110, with a narrower attenuation area. If the attenuation region is too large in the Z-direction, the glass sheet will remain in the viscous state for too long, thereby resulting in undesirable non-planar shape or warpage. At the upstream locations of the attenuation zone 246, i. E., In the preheating zone 244, the preformed glass sheet 110 has a maximum reel (not shown) in the glass sheet before entering the attenuation zone 246, It is suitably heated to promote relaxation. That is, if the preformed glass sheet 110 has too much stress in the preformed glass sheet 110 as it enters the higher temperature attenuation zone 246, it may be subjected to a heat shock at a disadvantage . Also, after the glass sheet has passed its viscous / viscoelastic states and into an elastic state, it may cool more quickly and be less likely to generate heat shocks, undesirable stress profiles, thermal scars, and the like. Thus, downstream of the attenuation zone, the temperature gradients remain constant over the width W of the glass sheet, while dropping somewhat faster.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the supply unit 310 of the lead-down drive system 300 introduces the preformed glass sheet 110 into the lead-lower furnace 200, A preformed glass sheet 110 is suspended within the furnace channel and is configured to move the preformed glass sheet 110 along at least a portion of the lead pathway 102. [ 9, the supply unit 310 includes a glass clamping base 322 that can be engaged with a preformed glass sheet 110, a hook drive system 328, And a glass hanger system 312 that includes one or more suspension shafts 314a, 314b coupled and extending between the glass clamping base 322 and the hanger drive stem 328. The glass hanger system 312 further includes a catch cover 320 removably engageable with the inlet end 212 of the furnace enclosure 210 to seal the furnace inlet 230. In other embodiments, the supply unit 310 may be used to provide alternative supply units 310, e.g., when the preformed glass sheet is in the form of a furnace, into the lead low furnace 200 and into the lead- And a roll feeder configured to output the preformed glass sheet 110 continuously into the path 102

In some embodiments, the one or more suspension shafts 314a, 314b of the glass hanger system 312 are coupled to a first suspension shaft 314a (314a, 314b) having a first shaft end 316 and a second shaft end 318, And a second suspension shaft 314b. The first and second suspension shafts 314a and 314b are coupled to the hanger drive system 328 at the first shaft end 316 and the glass clamping base 322 at the second shaft end 318, ). In some embodiments, the suspension shafts 314 are coupled to the hanger drive system 328 using a universal joint 360. 8, the one or more suspension shafts 314 extend through the hanger cover 320 such that when the hanger cover 320 is coupled to the furnace enclosure 210, A shaft end 316 terminates outside the furnace enclosure 210 and the second shaft end 318 terminates within the furnace enclosure 210. The hanger cover 320 includes donut gaskets including a covering portion 372, a locking device 374 and one or more gaskets 376, e.g., a deformable, resilient material, such as silicone, do. The one or more gaskets 376 seal the furnace inlet 230 of the furnace enclosure 210 to the inlet cover 320 when the hanger cover 320 is engaged with the furnace enclosure 210. can do.

9, the glass clamping base 322 includes a base housing 323, a hook handle 326 removably coupled to the base housing 323, and a glass (not shown) coupled to the hook handle 326. [ And a clamp 324. The base housing 323 may comprise any heat-insulating material, such as alumina-silica, silica, zirconia substrate fiberboard, and the like. The glass clamp 324 includes a clamping device, for example a rubber strip clamp comprising silicon or other polymers. For example, the glass clamp 324 may use a high temperature resistant silicon material as a nosing material. The glass clamp 324 is removably engaged with the preformed glass sheet 110 and is capable of gripping the preformed glass sheet 110 when the preformed glass sheet 110 is suspended within the furnace channel 216 have. Further, the hanger handle 326 may include an actuation device configured to actuate the glass clamp 324 to engage and disengage the preformed glass sheet 110. Furthermore, 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 can be removed from the base housing 323 so that the glass clamp 324 can be removed from the base housing 323 prior to joining the furnace hanger system 312 to the furnace enclosure 210 Can be combined with the formed glass sheet (110). The hook handle 326 and the glass clamp 324 holding the preformed glass sheet 110 can be coupled to the base housing 323 and the hook cover 320 can be coupled to the preformed glass sheet 110 May be coupled to the furnace inlet 230 of the furnace enclosure 210 to enter the furnace channel 216 of the lead-down furnace 200. Further, the hook handle 326 and the base housing 323 are configured to insulate the glass clamp 324 when the glass clamping base 322 is positioned within the furnace channel 216, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 250 C. < / RTI >

Referring again to Figures 1 and 8, the hook drive system 328 may be a screw jack system (e.g., a screw driven linear motion system that may include a ball screw or the like and may be ball screw guided or slide guided) A belt drive system having a ball drive system, a servo motor, a rack and a pinion system, etc., which can be ball, slide, or wheel-guided. Further, in some embodiments, the preformed glass sheet may be driven into the lead row furnace 200 using a set of edge rollers. In operation, the hanger drive system 328 couples the suspension shafts 314a, 314b and the glass clamping base 322 along a portion of the lead pathway 102, for example, in the transport direction 104 ) Or in the reverse direction 106. [0035] For example, the hanger drive system 328 may move the suspension shafts 314 from the furnace inlet 230 along a portion of the reedlow path 102, (See FIG. 10) upstream of the staging area 242 or upstream of the staging area 242 (for example, upstream of the upstream row change gate 120a) 244). ≪ / RTI >

8, the glass hanger system 312 also includes a first shaft end 316 and / or a second shaft end 318 of each of the one or more suspension shafts 314a and 314b, One or more load cells 362a, 362b coupled to the load cells 362a, 362b. For example, a first load cell 362a may be positioned between the first suspension shaft 314a and the latch drive system 328 and a second load cell 362b may be located between the second suspension shaft 314b ) And the hanger drive system 328. In operation, for example, when the glass hanger system 312 is holding the preformed glass sheet 110, the first and second load cells 362a, 362b are in contact with the first and second suspension shafts 362a, It is possible to measure the tensile force applied to each of the elastic members 314a and 314b. In operation, the preformed glass sheet 110 traverses the reedlow path 102, for example, as will be described below, one or more of the reedlow drive system 300 (Fig. 10) As the roller assemblies 330 (FIG. 10) apply tension to the preformed glass sheet 110, the load cells 362a, 362b can measure the tension applied to the preformed glass sheet 110 have. In addition, the one or more load cells 362a, 362b may be communicatively coupled to the reedrow system controller 150 (Figure 5) such that the tension measured by the load cells 362a, May be analyzed by the one or more processors 152 of the row system controller 150 and the one or more memory modules 156.

Referring now to Figures 1, 3, 10 and 11, the lead-down drive system 300 includes a plurality of roller assemblies 330a-330d, e.g., a locating roller assembly 330a, 1 attenuating roller assembly 330b, a second attenuating roller assembly 330c, and a collecting roller assembly 330d, each of which is disposed at different vertical positions along the lead path 102 . As shown in Figure 11, each of the roller assemblies 330a-330d extends from the vertically common positions along the lead-low path 102 toward the lead-low path 102, Includes a first pair of rollers 322a and a second pair of rollers 332b on which the low path 102 is located. 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 332a may extend through the first edge wall 226 of the furnace enclosure 210, The locating roller assembly 330a and the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330a, 332b may extend through the second edge wall 228 of the furnace enclosure 210 (e.g., 330b, 330c may extend through the second edge wall 228 of the furnace enclosure 210, as shown in FIG.

In operation, the roller assemblies 330a-330d provide mechanical control of the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass sheet drawn therefrom. To maintain good thermal control benefits, the glass sheet 110 And the glass sheet drawn therefrom has good mechanical control of the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass sheet drawn therefrom as it traverses the glass lead -low system 100 and the lead-low path 102 It is advantageous. That is, if the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass sheet drawn therefrom are allowed to travel within the glass lead-down system 100, for example due to insufficient mechanical control, in the furnace channel 216 , It will undergo uneven heating depending on whether it is moving closer and further away from the various heating elements in it. However, if the sheet is stably conveyed through the glass lead-in system 100 due to good mechanical control, it will undergo the intended thermal conditioning, and the thermal conditioning will be maintained as desired. In this regard, in some embodiments, it is desirable to locate the locating roller assembly 330a directly above the attenuation zone. When the locating roller assembly 330a is positioned directly above the attenuation zone, the preformed glass sheet 110 may be positioned near the center of the system immediately prior to favorably advancing the attenuation. Further, the rollers of the locating roller assembly 330a can function as a heat sink and thus can maintain physical dimensional control (i.e., before the preformed glass sheet reaches a desired position for attenuation, Which reduces the necking of the formed glass sheet in the width direction, which increases the repeatability of the draw. In some embodiments, the roller assemblies 330b and / or 330c may similarly lie directly under the attenuation zone to control the position of the glass sheet within the attenuation zone.

As shown in FIG. 11, each of the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b includes a first roller 334 and a second roller 336. Each of the first and second rollers 334 and 336 includes 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, . In some embodiments, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are powered. In these powered 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. [ Although a single roller drive system 350 is shown coupled to the first and second rollers 334 and 336 of each of the pair of rollers 332a and 332b of Figure 11, The first and second rollers 334 and 336 of each of the pair of rollers 332a and 332b may include respective roller drive systems 350. [

Each roller drive system 350 may include any motor configured to provide a rotational drive force to the roller shaft 338 and the roller shaft 338 to rotate the roller cylinder 340. The roller drive system 350 may also be communicatively coupled to the lead row system controller 150 (FIG. 5), which may output a control signal to the roller drive system 350. Further, the roller drive system 350 may operate a speed mode or a torque mode. In the speed mode, the roller driving system 350 outputs a speed driving force to the roller shaft 358 to rotate the roller shaft 338 at a constant speed. In the torque mode, the roller driving system 350 outputs a torque driving force to the roller shaft 338 to rotate the roller shaft 338 at a constant torque. In still other embodiments, the roller drive system 350 alternatively outputs the speed driving force or the torque driving force, and the speed of the speed driving force and the torque of the torque driving force are, for example, May be adjustable based on control signals from the controller 150 and / or user inputs received by the user input device 158 of the reedrow system controller 130 (FIG. 5).

10 and 11, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b may be positioned along the lead path 102 so that the preformed glass sheet 110 Is positioned adjacent to the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b longitudinally adjacent to the roller cylinders 332a and 332b of the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b 340 may contact the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preformed glass sheet 110. For example, each roller cylinder 340 of the first pair of rollers 332a is positioned between the first edge 116 and the lateral center 115, 1 and second surfaces 112 and 114 and each roller cylinder 340 of the second pair of rollers 332b may contact one of the second edge 118 and the lateral center (112, 114) of the preformed glass sheet (110) between the first and second surfaces (115, 115).

Further, the first and second rollers 334, 336 of the first and second pairs of rollers 332a, 332b are adjustable between an extended position 335 and a retracted position 337, respectively. The first and second rollers 334 and 336 are located at the edge of the lead pathway 102 so that the preformed glass sheet 110 is in contact with the roller cylinders 340 The roller cylinders 340 of the first and second rollers 335 and 336 are positioned between the first and second surfaces 112 of the preformed glass sheet 110 , 114). In the retracted position 337 the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are removed from the edge of the lead path 102 so that the preformed glass sheet 110 is moved to the lead path 102 The roller cylinders 340 of the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are positioned in the longitudinal direction of the roller cylinders 340 within the preformed glass sheet 110, The first and second surfaces 112, Further, the roller cylinder 340 may be positioned between the extended position 355 and the retracted position 337 in a range of 1 inch to 20 inches, for example, 4 inches, 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, 15 inches, 18 inches, and the like.

The first and second rollers 334 and 336 may be adjustable in one or both of a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction so as to move the first and second rollers 332 and 334 to the extended position 335 and the retracted position Position 337, as shown in FIG. For example, when the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are laterally adjustable (FIG. 10), the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are moved in the +/- X direction And moves between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337 in the lateral direction. The lateral adjustability also allows the first and second rollers 334 and 336 to engage with preformed glass sheets 110 having a range of width W. [ Further, when the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are adjustable in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 11), the first and second rollers 334 and 336 can move in the +/- Y direction , And moves between the extended position (335) and the retracted position (337) in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal adjustability allows the first and second rollers 334 and 336 to engage with preformed glass sheets 110 having a range of thicknesses T. [

The interaction of the first and second rollers 354 and 336 has been described above in connection with the preformed glass sheet 110 and is advantageous in that the staging area 242 and any Rollers. In a similar manner, the first and second rollers 334, 336 may also engage with the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110, which corresponds to the annealing region 248. That is, the preformed glass sheet 110 is introduced into the attenuating region 246 (via the staging region 242, the preheating region 244, and the supply unit 310) . In the attenuating area 246, the preformed glass sheet 110 is thinned by the interaction between the supply unit 310 and the first attenuating roller assembly 330b , And creates a drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet (110). The glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 then further narrows the width W between the first attenuating roller assembly 300b and the second attenuating roller assembly 330c.

Referring now to FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the first and second rollers 334, 336 of some or all of the plurality of roller assemblies 330 may be rotatable. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 can rotate in the vertical upstream direction and the vertical downward direction about the roller joint 339. For example, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 may be moved in the vertical downward direction about the roller joint 339 at an angle -α with respect to the lateral (X) axis and in the vertical upstream direction And may be rotated at an angle of + alpha with respect to the lateral (X) axis. In some embodiments, the roller joint 339 includes a roller drive system 350 that is capable of outputting a tilting drive force to rotate the first and second rollers 334 and 336 Lt; / RTI > When the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are rotated at an angle of +/- alpha, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are rotated in the predetermined direction So as to apply a pulling force in the vertical and lateral directions.

For example, when the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are positioned at the -α angle, the first and second rollers 334 and 336 are positioned at the pre-formed glass sheet 110 or It is possible to apply a pulling force to thin the thickness of the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom while widening the drawn glass from the glass sheet 110 while the pulling force of the pair of rollers 332a and 332b The first and second rollers 334 and 336 are located at positions corresponding to the positions of the first and second rollers 334 and 336 of the other pair of rollers 332b and 332 at corresponding positions in the Z direction Can be positioned in the + alpha angle direction to balance. Further, in some embodiments, the first and second rollers can be rotated longitudinally about the roller joint 339, e.g., away from the edge of the lead pathway 102, The first and second rollers 334 and 336 may rotate between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337.

Referring again to Figures 3, 10 and 11, the locating roller assembly 330a extends laterally into the furnace channel 216 at a vertical position upstream of the attenuation heating units 256a, 256b. . For example, the first pair of rollers 332a of the locating roller assembly 330a may extend through the first edge wall 226 and the first edge wall 226 of the locating roller assembly 330a, Two pairs of rollers 332b may extend through the second edge wall 228. 10, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the locating roller assembly 330a are vertically disposed in the preheating zone 244, for example, 1 and the second preheating units 252a, 254a. The first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the locating roller assembly 330a may not be rotationally driven (i.e., the pre-formed glass sheet < RTI ID = 0.0 > As the glass sheet 110 moves, it may not be driven to rotate along the movement of the preformed glass sheet 110). In operation, the locating roller assembly 330a engages the preformed glass sheet 110 and as the preformed glass sheet 110 traverses the reedlow path 102, The pre-formed glass sheet 110 is attached to the first and second surfaces of the furnace enclosure 210 such that heat can be equally applied to the first and second surfaces 112, To a longitudinal position within the furnace channel 216 at a position driven from the walls 222, 224.

Further, as the preformed glass sheet 110 traverses the lead-low path 102 through the preheating zone 244, the first and second surfaces (e.g., 112 and 114 between the first and second rollers 334 of the two pairs of rollers 332a and 332b adjustable between the extended position 335 and the retracted position 337, May be in full contact with the assembly 330a. The pair of rollers 332a and 332b of the locating roller assembly 320a are positioned such that the pre-formed glass sheet 110 is in contact with the locating roller assembly 330a Position 337 and when the preformed glass sheet 110 is longitudinally adjacent and joining the preformed glass sheet 110 to the locating roller assembly 320a the extended position 335 ). ≪ / RTI >

10 and 11, the first attenuating roller assembly 330b is disposed at a vertical position downstream of the attenuation heating units 256a and 256b of the lead-lower furnace 200, May extend laterally into the furnace channel (216) of the furnace (201). For example, the first pair of rollers 332a of the first attuning roller assembly 330b may extend through the first edge wall 226, and the first attenuating roller assembly < RTI ID = 0.0 > The second pair of rollers 332b of the second edge portion 330b may extend through the second edge wall 228. [ 10, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a and 332b of the first attuning roller assembly 330b are vertically connected to the attenuation heating unit 256a and the first Annealing heating unit 258a. The first attuning roller assembly 330b is coupled to the roller shafts 338 with power and is coupled to the roller shaft 338 and the roller cylinders 340 of the first attenuating roller assembly 330b (Not shown). ≪ / RTI > Further, the one or more roller drive systems 350 may selectively connect the roller shafts 338 and the roller cylinders 340 of the first attuning roller assembly 330b to a speed control mode or torque control mode . Further, the first pair of rollers 332a can rotate at a different rotational speed than the second pair of rollers 332b, so that the first pair of rollers 332a can rotate with the second pair of rollers 332a, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 332b. ≪ / RTI >

In operation, each roller cylinder 340 of the first attuning roller assembly 330b is in contact with a contact point between the roller cylinders 340 and the preformed glass sheet 110 (or glass drawn therefrom) The tangential speed of the roller cylinder 340 and the translational movement of the preformed glass sheet 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 determined by the translational movement of the preformed glass sheet 110 (e. G., The glass clamping base < RTI ID = 322) by about 5 to about 15 times, for example, about 8 times, 10 times, 12 times, and so on. In operation, when the tangential speed of the roller cylinder 340 is faster than the translational movement of the preformed glass sheet 110 in the transport direction 104, the roller cylinders 340 are positioned in the pre- 110). ≪ / RTI > The first attenuating roller assembly 330b may be disposed downstream of the attenuation zone 246 and may include a segment of the preformed glass sheet 110 that contacts the first attenuating roller assembly 330b, May include a temperature above the softening temperature or the viscous temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110 so that the pulling force exerted by the first attenuating roller assembly 330b is greater than the thickness of the preformed glass sheet 110 T) is thinned.

10, the second attenuating roller assembly 330c is disposed laterally at a vertical position downstream of the first attenuating roller assembly 330b, (Not shown). As one non-limiting example, the third attuning roller assembly 440c may be positioned vertically between the first and second annealing heating units 258a, 260a. Further, the second atooting roller assembly 330c may include substantially the same components as the first atining roller assembly 330b and may operate substantially the same. Also, in some embodiments, the lead-low drive system 300 does not include the second atumniating roller assembly 330c, and in other embodiments, the lead- And additional attuning roller assemblies positioned between the second attenuating roller assembly 330c and the furnace outlet 232. [

The first and second pairs of rollers 322a and 332b of the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330b and 330c are adjusted between the extended position 225 and the retracted position 337 It can be possible. In operation, when the preformed glass sheet 110 traverses the reedlow path 102, the first and second pairs of first and second attenuating roller assemblies 330b and 330c The rollers 332a and 332b are positioned in the retracted position 227 before the preformed glass sheet 110 is positioned vertically adjacent the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330b and 330c. And the preformed glass sheet 110 is vertically adjacent to the first and second attuning assemblies 330b and 330c, respectively, vertically and combined with the preformed glass sheet 110 , And actuated to the extended position. In operation, when the preformed glass sheet 110 is coupled with the collecting roller assembly 330d, the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330, 330c are moved back to the retracted position 337, And removes contact between the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330b and 330c and the preformed glass sheet 110 and / or the glass drawn therefrom. Further, in some embodiments, the roller cylinders 340 of the locating roller assembly 330a, the first attinging roller assembly 330b, and the second ateting roller assembly 330c Refractory materials such as Nichias SD-115 (manufactured by Nichias, Tokyo, Japan), high temperature ceramic materials, metals, mica and the like, so that the roller cylinders 340 are not deformed or melted And can withstand the temperature in the furnace enclosure 210.

10, the collecting roller assembly 330d may be located outside the furnace enclosure 210 in a vertical position below the furnace outlet 232 of the furnace enclosure 210, and the furnace outlet 232 ) And the acquisition unit (400). In some embodiments, the collecting roller assembly 330d may be coupled to the furnace enclosure 210 at the outlet end 214 using, for example, a carriage, a bracket, or the like. The collecting roller assembly 330d can be powered and coupled to the roller shafts 338 and rotates the roller shafts 338 and the roller cylinders 340 of the collecting roller assembly 330d (Not shown). The one or more roller drive systems 350 of the collecting roller assembly 330d may optionally rotate in the speed control mode or the torque control mode. Further, the first pair of rollers 332a can rotate at a different rotational speed than the second pair of rollers 332b, so that the first pair of rollers 332a can rotate with the second pair of rollers 332a, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 322b. ≪ / RTI > In addition, the first and second pairs of rollers 332a, 332b of the collecting roller assembly 330d may engage with the preformed glass sheet 110 and may be formed in the speed mode or the torque mode, The pulling force can be applied to the glass sheet 110. In some embodiments, when the first and second roller assemblies 300b and 300c are in the retracted position 337, respectively, the main tension on the preformed glass sheet 110 is transmitted to the collecting roller assembly 330d, Lt; / RTI > In this configuration in which the tension for thinning the thickness T of the preformed glass sheet 110 is applied to the collecting roller assembly 330d, The first attenuating roller assembly 330b and / or the second attenuating roller assembly 330c alone may have less warpage than when applied with only the first attenuating roller assembly 330b and / or the second attenuating roller assembly 330c. That is, it can be more flat.

Each of the roller cylinders 340 of the collecting roller assembly 330d is positioned between the roller cylinders 340 and the preformed glass sheet 110 at the point of contact between the drawn glass and the roller cylinders 340, So that the tangential speed of the glass sheet 110 in the conveying direction 104 and the translational movement of the preformed glass sheet 110 in the conveying direction 104 may be substantially the same or different. The roller cylinders 340 are positioned between the preformed glass sheet 110 and the preformed glass sheet 110 when the tangential speed of the roller cylinders 340 is faster than the pre- So that the thickness T of the portions of the preformed glass sheet 110 having a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110 is thinned. In some embodiments, each roller cylinder 340 of the collecting roller assembly 330d may rotate faster or slower than the respective roller cylinders of the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330b, 330c . In other embodiments, each roller cylinder 340 of the collecting roller assembly 330d is rotated at approximately the same speed as the respective roller cylinders of the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330b and 330c can do.

In some embodiments, the roller cylinders 340 of the collecting roller assembly 330d are in contact with the glass when the glass is at a much lower temperature than when the glass is in the attenuation zone, The roller cylinders 340 of the collecting roller assembly 330d may be formed of a material such as glass, silicon, Viton (TM) (fluorocarbon elastomer), fluorosilicone or the like, With a low nip force with the glass drawn from the sheet 110 to prevent the formation of glass cracks in the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110. In addition, the collecting roller assembly 330d may direct the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 to the collecting unit 400.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the collecting unit 400 may include a collecting spool 410 and a cutting device 420. The lead-down path 102 ends at the collecting unit 400 and the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 exits the lead -low furnace 200 and passes through the collecting roller assembly 330d And then collected by the collecting unit 400. For example, the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 may be collected by wrapping around the collection spool 410. In operation, the collecting spool 410 is rotatable about its axis, which rotates the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 around the collecting spool 410 and / Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 200 < / RTI > In some embodiments, the collection spool 410 includes a substantially cylindrical body around which the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 is curled. Further, the diameter of the collection spool 410 may be configured to be based on the bending radius of the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110. For example, the thin glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 may include a smaller bending radius than the thick glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110. Therefore, a large-diameter collection spool 410 is required for collecting the thick glass sheet, and a small-diameter collection spool 410 is required for collecting the thin glass sheet. The cylindrical body includes a circular cross-sectional shape. In other embodiments, the cross section of the collection spool 410 may have a triangular, rectangular, elliptical, or other suitable polygonal or non-polygonal shape.

The cutting device 420 may include a score wheel, a scribing tip, a cutting disk, a laser, a torch, a fluid jet, a bending device, another suitable cutting device, or a combination thereof. In operation, when the glass sheet exits the lead-down furnace 200 with a necking thickness, the cutting device 420 may cut the glass sheet. That is, at the end of the run, the preformed glass sheet 110 is no longer left with enough material to produce a desired thickness of the drawn glass sheet, and the roller assemblies 330 continue to form the preformed glass sheet 110 , The drawn glass sheet will reach a point where it is thinned and begins to deform, usually in thickness and width directions. For example, the glass sheet will be thinned to a necking thickness less than the desired thickness. In this regard, the preformed glass sheet 110 is no longer capable of producing the desired drawn glass sheet, and the remaining glass sheet 110 having the desired thickness (i.e., the portion of the glass sheet that has reached the necking thickness) The process is terminated by cutting the drawn glass sheet. When the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 is cut, the end of the drawn glass sheet is wound onto the collecting spool 410 and the remaining portion of the preformed glass sheet 110 is still in contact with the glass- Can be coupled to system 312 and removed from the lead low furnace 200 and disengaged from the glass hanger system 312. A new preformed glass sheet 110 is then placed on the glass hanger system 312 and the process resumes.

Referring again to Figures 1 to 12, the glass lead-down system 100 can be used to thin the preformed glass sheet 110 such that the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet < RTI ID = 0.0 > 110 & Upon reaching the collecting unit 400, the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 may comprise a thickness of less than about 100 [mu] m. Although a number of steps are described below, it should be understood that the glass leadlow system 100 may be used to thin the preformed glass sheet 110 using only a subset of the steps described below, It should be understood that Further, although the steps are described in a specific order, different orders are envisioned. First, the lead low furnace 200 may be preheated to raise the temperature in the furnace channel 216. A temporary furnace inlet cover 234 may be associated with the furnace enclosure 210 to cover the furnace inlet 230 and a temporary furnace outlet cover 236 may be coupled to the furnace enclosure 210 to cover the furnace outlet 232. [ Next, the roller assemblies 330, e.g., the locating roller assemblies 330a, the first and second attuning roller assemblies 300b, 300c, and the collecting roller assemblies 330d May be actuated to the retracted position 337. In this case,

Furthermore, the glass hanger system 312 can be manually or automatically engaged with the preformed glass sheet 110. For example, the hanger handle 326 and the glass clamp 324 can be removed from the base housing 323 and the glass clamp 324 can be removed from the first and second glass sheets 110, And the hook handle 326 can be engaged with the base housing 323 so that the hook handle 326, the glass clamp 324, and / The preformed glass sheet 110 is engaged with the glass hanger system 312. Next, the preformed glass sheet 110 may be suspended within the furnace enclosure 210. For example, the temporary furnace inlet cover 234 may be removed from the inlet of the furnace 230, and the base housing 323 and the preformed glass sheet 110 may be inserted into the furnace channel 216 And the hanger cover 320 may be coupled to the inlet end 212 of the furnace enclosure 210 to seal the furnace inlet 230. Once the inlet end 212 of the furnace enclosure 210 is sealed, the temporary furnace outlet cover 236 can be removed.

The glass hanger system 312 may then move the preformed glass sheet 110 along the lead path 102 in the transport direction 104 using the hanger drive system 328 . The locating roller assembly 330a is tucked from the retracted position 227 into the extended position 335 when the preformed glass sheet 110 is longitudinally adjacent the locating roller assembly 330a So that the roller cylinders 340 of the locating roller assembly 330a engage the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preformed glass sheet 110. Further, when the preformed glass sheet 110 is longitudinally adjacent to the first attenuating roller assembly 330b, the first attenuating roller assembly 330b moves from the retracted position 337 to the extended position The roller cylinders 340 of the first attuning roller assembly 330b may be actuated by the first and second surfaces 112 and 114 of the preformed glass sheet 110, ).

When the first attuning roller assembly 330b is coupled with the preformed glass sheet 110, the glass hanger system 312 can stop moving the preformed glass sheet 110, The first and second pairs of rollers of the first attenuating roller assembly 330b are tacked by the one or more roller drive systems 350 to apply a vertical tension to the preformed glass sheet 110, The formed glass sheet 110 is thinned and the drawn glass is moved from the preformed glass sheet 110 along the lead path 102. When the glass hanger system 312 stops moving the preformed glass sheet 110, the heat applied to the preformed glass sheet 110 by the plurality of heating units 250, The attenuation of the thickness T of the preformed glass sheet 110 caused by the combination of the tension applied to the preformed glass sheet 110 by the tipping roller assembly 330b is greater than the attenuation of the preformed glass sheet 110. [ And the glass drawn therefrom can be moved along the lead-down path 102 in the transport direction 104.

In some embodiments, when first contacting the preformed glass sheet 110, the first attuning roller assembly 330b may operate in the torque mode, The vertical tension can be gradually increased. Further, since the first attenuating roller assembly 330b is coupled with the preformed glass sheet 110 in the furnace channel 216, the waste of the preformed glass sheet 110 may be limited . That is, in a typical glass draw system, the first pulling rollers are located at the exit of the system. Thus, at the start of the run, the preformed glass sheet can be pulled in a controlled manner to move the entire length of the glass lead-in system to create a desired thickness of the finally drawn glass sheet. Is heated until it is engaged with the pulling rollers at the outlet of the system. In this case, there is a considerable amount of material that will melt from the preformed glass sheet before the glass sheet of the desired thickness is made.

 In the present glass lead-down system 100, the first attenuating roller assembly 330b and / or the second attenuating roller assembly 330c are positioned at a much earlier position, for example, May be used to join the shell within the channel 216, thereby wasting less material from the preformed glass sheet 110 before the drawn glass sheet of desired thickness is produced. For example, the first attuning roller assembly 330b may be coupled to the preformed glass sheet 110 such that the wasted portion of the preformed glass sheet is less than 20% of the preformed glass sheet, For example, less than 15%, less than 10%, less than 5%, and the like. In addition, in embodiments including the second ateneting roller assembly 330c, the preformed glass sheet 110 or glass drawn therefrom may be vertically adjacent to the second attuning roller assembly 330c The second attuning roller assembly 330c may be actuated from the retracted position 337 to the extended position 335 so that the roller cylinders of the second attuning roller assembly 330c 340 join with the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preformed glass sheet 110.

Next, the collecting roller assembly 330d may be actuated to the extended position 335 when the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom is vertically adjacent to the collecting roller assembly 330d, The roller cylinders 340 of the collecting roller assembly 330d engage the first and second surfaces 112, 114 of the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom. The collecting roller assembly 330d can then be rotatably actuated to exert a vertical tension and pulling force on the preformed glass sheet 110 or the drawn glass therefrom. In some embodiments, the collecting roller assembly 330d operates in a speed mode to apply a constant pull force to the preformed glass sheet 110 to thin the thickness T of the preformed glass sheet 110 can do. After the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom reaches the collecting unit 400, the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 is collected by the collecting unit 400, For example, around the collection spool 410. For example, once the desired length of the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 is achieved, the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet is cut using the cutting apparatus 420 of the collecting unit 400 .

The roller assemblies 330a-d can be used in various ways to pull the preformed glass sheet 110 and thus draw it to the resulting desired thickness. For example, although described as being used as a locating device not operating above, in some embodiments the locating roller assembly 330a may include rolls that are driven. Additionally, for example, the roller assemblies 330a-d may be driven to control the thickness of the resulting glass sheet drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 by operating at a rate of at least one , The other roller assemblies may be driven in the torque mode. For example, the first attuning roller assembly 330b may operate in a torque mode, the second attuning roller assembly 330c may operate in a torque mode, and the collecting roller assembly 330d ) Can operate in speed mode. In other examples, the first attuning roller assembly 330b may operate in a torque mode, the second attuning roller assembly 330c may operate in a speed mode, and the collecting roller assembly 330d ) Can operate in the torque mode. In other examples, the first attuning roller assembly 330b may operate in a speed mode, the second attuning roller assembly 330c may operate in a torque mode, and the collecting roller assembly 330d may operate in the torque mode.

In other examples, the first and second attuning roller assemblies 330b and 330c may be the sole roller assemblies that engage the preformed glass sheet 110 and the glass drawn therefrom. In these examples, the torque setting and the horizontal tension (by tilting the roll angle alpha) to control the ribbon shape in the attuning area 246 to achieve a flat ribbon and low ribbon stress resulting in process stability And may be adjusted by the roller assemblies 330b and 330c. In some variations of these examples, the collecting roller assembly 330d may also be used in constant velocity mode to control thickness and add process stability.

Referring again to Figures 1, 4 and 5, the glass leadlow system 100 includes a plurality of sensing devices, e.g., pyrometers 140, thermocouples 142, Measurement gauges 144, and thermal line scanners 148. Each of the plurality of sensing devices may be communicatively coupled to the reedrow system controller 150 along the communication path 154 to transmit sensor signals associated with the measurement of the sensors to the reedlow system controller 150 And receives control signals from the read-low system controller 150. In operation, the sensor signals received from the one or more sensing devices may be stored in the one or more memory modules (156) of the lead -low system controller (150), and the first and second plurality of heating units The first and second load cells 362a and 362b of the glass hinging system 312 (e.g., heat output), the lead-down drive system 300, for example, For example, the tension applied to the preformed glass sheet 110). Based on these comparisons, the lead -low system controller 150 may determine various operating functions of the glass lead -low system 100, for example, the rotational speed of the plurality of roller assemblies 330a-330d and / Or torque, the translational speed of the glass hanger system 312, the alignment of the glass hanger system 312, and the temperature output by the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b have.

1, a plurality of thermocouples 142 are disposed within the furnace enclosure 210, for example, the first and second surface walls 222 and 224 and the first and second edge walls < RTI ID = 0.0 > 228, < / RTI > Further, the thermocouples 142 may be coupled or positioned adjacent to the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, 250b. In some embodiments, the plurality of thermocouples 142 may include thermal control thermocouples 142a and / or process control thermocouples 142b (Figure 5). 9 and 9, one or more thermocouples 142 may be formed on the glass clamp 324 (FIG. 9A) when the glass clamp 324 (FIG. 9) includes silicon, for example. To monitor the temperature of the glass hanger system 312 that includes the glass hanger system 312.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 5, the thermal control thermocouples 142a measure the temperature of the individual heating units and / or the individual heating elements. For example, the heating control thermocouples 152a may be arranged in a common vertical position along the first and second surface walls 222, 224, respectively, of the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, Can be positioned adjacent to individual heating units. Further, the process control thermocouples 142b may be located within the furnace enclosure 210 and measure the temperature of the air in the furnace channel 216. In operation, when the preformed glass sheet 110 is positioned within the furnace channel 216 across the lead path 102, for example, the preformed glass sheet 110 and the first and second glass sheets 110, The air temperature in the furnace channel 216 between the two surface walls 222, 224 may be measured by the process control thermocouples 142b. The air temperature in the furnace channel 216 provides information to the lead low system controller 150 (FIG. 5) in relation to the longitudinal position of the preformed glass sheet 110 in the furnace channel 216. 5, the glass lead low system 100 further includes one or more alarm devices 147 communicatively coupled to the thermocouples 142 and the lead low system controller 150. In addition, As shown in FIG. The one or more alarm devices 147 may include any audible or visual alarm devices and if the thermocouples 142 measure the temperature in the furnace channel 216 that is greater than the threshold temperature, And to actuate and output an alarm signal to inform the user that the furnace channel 216 exceeds the threshold temperature.

For example, if longitudinally adjacent heating units 250a, 250b are outputting heat at the same temperature, the first surface wall 222 and the first surface of the preformed glass sheet 110 112 is equal to the air temperature between the second surface wall 224 and the second surface 114 of the preformed glass sheet 110, the lead -low system controller 150 determines It can be determined that the preformed glass sheet 110 is centered in the furnace channel 216 in the longitudinal direction. Further, if these air temperatures are different, the reedrow system controller 150 determines that the preformed glass sheet 110 is not centered in the longitudinal direction, for example, the first and second surface walls 222 224 may be closer to one of the first and second surface walls 222, 224 than the other. Based on this feedback, the lead-down system controller 150 may be configured to change the position of the glass hanger system 312, for example, by changing the position of the glass hanger system 312 and / or by changing the position of the appropriate pair of rollers 330a- The position of the preformed glass sheet 110 in the furnace channel 216 can be changed by changing the positions of the glass sheets 110a,

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pyrometers 140 are arranged in a plurality of vertical positions along the lead-low path 102 to form the preformed glass sheet 110 or the first and second RTI ID = 0.0 > 112, < / RTI > In operation, the pyrometers 140 can emit electromagnetic radiation onto the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom, receive the return signal, and receive the signal from the preformed glass sheet 110 or from there The temperature of the drawn glass is determined based on the noise level of the returning signal. In some embodiments, the pyrometers 140 are configured to output 7.8 micrometer wavelength electromagnetic radiation, which can be used to measure the temperature of an exemplary glass sheet that includes a thickness (T) of about 25 [mu] m to about 200 [mu] m have. Further, it is contemplated that the pyrometers 140 may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation at other wavelengths, for example, wavelengths from about 5 [mu] m to about 15 [mu] m.

In some embodiments, the pyrometers 140 may extend through the first and second surface walls 222, 224 of the furnace enclosure 210. In other embodiments, the furnace enclosure 210 includes a first surface wall 222, a second surface wall 224, a first edge wall 226, and a second edge wall 228, And may include a plurality of optical slots extending through more than one such that the one or more pyrometers 140 may output electromagnetic radiation into the furnace channel 216 through the plurality of optical slots.

In operation, the pyrometers 140 cause the pre-formed glass sheet 110 or the drawn glass to traverse the lead low path 102 through the one or more furnace regions 240, Can be positioned along various vertical positions of the furnace enclosure 210 to determine the temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom. In some embodiments, the pyrometers 140 are stationary, and in other embodiments, the pyrometers 140 can be configured to scan over the width of the sheet (i.e., Many measurements can be made at various points over the width of the glass sheet). A separate pyrometer 140 may be provided between the first edge 116 and the second edge 118 to create a temperature profile of the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom, The temperature of the formed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom can be measured. Further, the temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom (as measured by the pyrometers 140) is measured using the lead row system controller 150 to determine the temperature of the first and second plurality of heating units (As measured by the thermal control thermocouples 142a) and the air temperature (as measured by the process control thermocouples 142b) of the furnace channel 216 and the temperature Can be compared. This comparison is made such that the lead row system controller 150 controls the temperature of the heating units 250a, 250b, the air temperature of the furnace channel, and the temperature of the preformed glass sheet 110, The lead row system controller 150 can determine the relationship between the temperatures of the first and second surfaces 112 and 114 so that the preformed glass sheet 110 can be thinned to a desired thickness T. [ The one or more roller assemblies 330, including pairs of rollers 332a, 332b having heat, heat output by the heating units 250a, 250b, translational speed of the glass hanger system 312, , And the torque, the rotational speed, and the position of the engine.

In some embodiments, the pyrometers 140 may be used to measure sheet shape. That is, the temperature of the first and second surfaces 112, 114 can be monitored and, when there is a temperature change above a typical amount, there is an undesirable sheet shape, e.g., Lt; / RTI > moves out of the desired plane. On the other hand, if the pyrometers 140 indicate that there is very little temperature change, it can be determined that there is little undesirable sheet shape. The lead row system controller 150 may monitor the temperature change from the pyrometers 140 to determine when there is a desired or undesirable sheet shape and to determine the remaining of the glass lead low system The part can be adjusted. For example, to facilitate sheet flattening, the remainder of the glass lead low system 100 may be heated by the heating units 250, the heating elements 250 ', the roller assemblies 330, A flow (described below), a gas extraction device (described below), and the like.

4 and 5, the glass thickness gauges 144 may be arranged to detect the thickness of the preformed glass sheet 110 or the glass drawn therefrom at one or more vertical positions along the lead path 102 (T) can be measured. The glass thickness gauges 144 may include, for example, a spectral interference laser displacement gauge, a high precision cone colorimeter, a laser confocal sensor, etc., available from Keyence. In some embodiments, gauges having a longer working distance than the gauges described above may be desirable. In some embodiments, the glass thickness gauges 144 may have a thickness that is less than the thickness of the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 after the thickness T has been thinned by the roller assemblies 330b-d T) of the collection roller assemblies 330d of the furnace outlet 232. The collection roller assemblies 330d may be positioned downstream of the collection roller assemblies 330d. The glass thickness measuring devices 144 can be stopped or scanned. In some embodiments, a plurality of glass thickness gauges 144 may be positioned laterally adjacent at a common vertical position such that the glass thickness gauges 144 are positioned at a plurality of lateral positions The lead row system controller 150 can measure the thickness T of the preformed glass sheet 110 or the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 so that the preformed glass sheet 110 or the drawn glass And the second edges 116 and 118. [0064]

Further, the thermal line scanners 148 may be positioned, for example, vertically downstream of the furnace thickness measuring devices 144 at the furnace outlet 232, As the glass moves between the furnace outlet 232 and the collecting unit 400, the temperature of the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 can be measured. In operation, the thermal line scanners 148 are positioned between the first and second surfaces 112, 112 of the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 between the first and second edges 116, , 114) can be measured. In operation, the temperature measurements of the thermal line scanners 148 are performed such that the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110 is drawn from the preformed glass sheet 110 after leaving the furnace outlet 232 The glass thickness gauges 144 are measured using the lead row system controller 150, for example, to determine the correlation between the temperature of the glass sheet 110 and the thickness of the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet 110. [ ≪ / RTI >

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the lead-lower furnace 200 and the lead -low drive system 300 may be fluidly cooled using a cooling fluid, for example, air, water, or the like. 1, the lead low furnace 200 includes a first surface wall 222, a second surface wall 224, a first edge wall 225, and a second edge wall 220. The first edge wall 225, A plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 positioned within one or more of the plurality of fluid cooling channels. The fluid cooling channels 270 include one or more pipes, tubes, etc. to provide fluid paths. Further, the plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 may be fluidly coupled to one or more reservoirs 272 (FIG. 3) and one or more pumping systems 274 (FIG. 3) Fluid cooling channels 270 of the furnace 210 to remove heat from the furnace enclosure 210.

In some embodiments, the volume and velocity of the cooling fluid flowing through the fluid cooling channels 270 may be varied by, for example, the one or more pumping systems 274 to control the temperature of the furnace enclosure 210, . Further, a plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 can be positioned within the furnace enclosure 210 such that the fluid cooling channels 270 can be positioned adjacent to different furnace areas 2400. In operation, the plurality of fluid cooling channels 270 may be independently controlled. By way of non-limiting example, the fluid cooling channel 270 located within the furnace enclosure 210 adjacent the annealing region 248 may be provided with an increased volume and / Or speed of cooling fluid. In addition, the one or more pumping systems 274 may be communicatively coupled to the reedrow system controller 150 (FIG. 5) to provide control signals to the pumping systems 274. It should be appreciated that by controlling the volume and velocity of the cooling fluid through the individual fluid cooling channels 270, the temperatures of portions of the furnace enclosure 210 in the different furnace areas 240 can be selectively controlled .

In some embodiments, the fluid cool down channels 270 or other fluid channels can extend into the various components of the glass lead low system 100 such that the coolant fluid can circulate therethrough. For example, one or more fluid cooling channels 270 may be formed between the thermal change gates 120, the thermal spreaders 130, the pyrometers 140, the thermocouples 142, 312 and the glass clamping base 322 and the roller shafts 338 of each of the plurality of roller assemblies 330.

In operation, circulating the cooling fluid through the individual components may cool these components while the heat is output into the furnace channel 216. For example, circulating cooling fluid (e.g., air) through each roller shaft 338 may cause deflection of the roller shafts 338 that extend into the furnace channel 216 (e.g., Deflection) can be minimized. The roller shafts 338 and the roller cylinders 340 are in contact with the first and second surfaces of the preformed glass sheet 110 (or glass drawn therefrom) 112, 114 so as to remove heat near the first and second edges 116, 118 of the preformed glass sheet 110 and to remove heat from the first and second edges 116, Thereby reducing the viscosity of the preformed glass sheet 110 (or glass drawn therefrom) along the second edges 116, 118. Reducing the viscosity of the preformed glass sheet 110 (or the glass drawn therefrom) along the first and second edges 116, 188 can be achieved by reducing the viscosity of the preformed glass sheet 110 (or the drawn glass Can reduce the attenuation of the width W of the preformed glass sheet 110 (or the glass drawn therefrom) as it traverses the reedlow path 102. Further, circulating the cooling fluid through the suspension shafts 314 and the glass clamping base 322 of the glass hanger system 312 can be achieved, for example, when the glass clamp 324 includes silicon, Cooling can be additionally provided to the glass clamp 324 to maintain the glass clamp 324 below about 250 ° C when the glass clamping base 322 is positioned within the furnace channel 216.

1, the lead low furnace 200 further includes one or more edge cooling bayonets 290 extending into the furnace channel 216 and terminating adjacent the lead low path 102. . 1, the edge cooling baysets 290 are located in the annealing region 248. However, any number of edge cooling baysets 290 may be present in any of the furnace areas 240 ). ≪ / RTI > In some embodiments, one or more edge cooling baysets 290 may be fluidly coupled to the plurality of inlet cooling channels 270 to allow cooling fluid to flow through the edge cooling baysets 290 . In other embodiments, the edge cooling baysets 290 may receive cooling fluid from the one or more reservoirs 272 (FIG. 3) independently of the plurality of fluid cooling channels 270. In operation, the edge cooling baysets 290 are positioned such that the preformed glass sheet 110 (or glass drawn therefrom) traverses the lead low path 102 to form the preformed glass sheet 110 Or the first and second edges 116, 118 of the glass (or glass drawn therefrom). The local cooling of the first and second edges 116, 118 of the preformed glass sheet 110 (or the glass drawn therefrom) may enhance the first and second edges 116, So that the attenuation of the width W can be minimized.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the lead low 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 tubes 280 may be fluidly coupled to a gas extraction pump 285 such that the gas extraction tubes 280 actively extract gas from the furnace channel 216 can do. In other embodiments, for example, when the air flow is in the furnace channel 216 and / or when the furnace channel 216 includes a pressure above atmospheric pressure, And is configured to passively output gas from the furnace channel 216 without the use of a gas extraction pump 285. The one or more gas extraction tubes 280 may extend through at least one of the first and second surface walls 222 and 224 and the first and second edge walls 226 and 228. In some embodiments, the gas extraction tubes 280 are sealable to seal the furnace channel 216. In some embodiments, the gas extraction tubes 280 are located within the annealing region 248, the attenuation region 248, or both. For example, the gas extraction tubes 280 may be positioned vertically downstream of the attenuation zone 246 to minimize airflow within the attenuation zone.

In operation, if there is a leak through the purge inlet 230 (e.g., through the hook cover 320), the first and second plurality of heating units 250a, The vertical temperature gradient 500 (FIG. 7) formed in the furnace channel 216 may be used to create an air flow in the furnace channel 216, for example, between the outlet end 214 and the inlet end 212 . In operation, the gas extraction tubes 280 extract gas from the furnace enclosure 210, for example, the annealing region 248 and / or the attenuation region 246 to form the attenuation region 246 Lt; / RTI > By limiting the air flow through the attenuation zone 246, the preformed glass sheet 110 can be heated without airflow affecting the thickness T of the preformed glass sheet 110 (e.g., (Without any air flow to produce any undesired thickness features on the preformed glass sheet 110 or the drawn glass).

3, the lead-lower furnace 200 may further include one or more gas injection tubes 282 structurally configured to inject gas into the furnace channel 216. The gas injection tubes 282 may be fluidly coupled to a gas injection pump 286 such that the gas injection tubes 282 can actively inject gas into the furnace channel 216. In some embodiments in which the gas extraction tubes 280 are fluidly coupled to the gas extraction pump 285, the gas extraction tubes 282 are connected to the gas extraction pump 285 or the gas injection pump 286 < / RTI > The one or more gas injection tubes 282 may extend through at least one of the first and second surface walls 222, 224 and the first and second edge walls 226, 228. In some embodiments, the gas injection tubes 282 may be located in the staging area 242, the preheating zone 244, or both, and the vertically upstream To increase the gas pressure upstream of the attenuation zone 246 to cancel out the upstream air flow caused by the increased temperatures of the attenuation zone 246.

Further, the gas extraction pump 285 and the gas injection pump 286 are connected to the lead -low system controller 150 (also shown in FIG. 1), which provides control signals to the gas extraction pump 285 and the gas injection pump 286, respectively 5). The glass lead low system 100 may also include one or more pressure sensors 149 (Figure 5) located within the furnace enclosure 210 and communicatively coupled to the lead low system controller 150 . The one or more pressure sensors 149 are structurally configured to measure pressures and / or airflow within the furnace enclosure 210 and output sensor signals to the leadlow system controller 150. In operation, the reedlow system controller 150 may control the flow of air in the furnace channel 216, for example, to minimize airflow in the furnace channel 216 and / or to limit the airflow in the furnace channel 216 to laminar airflow The gas extracted from the furnace channel 216 using the gas extraction pump 285, for example, based on the pressure and / or air flow signals measured by the one or more pressure sensors 149, And control the volume and velocity of the gas injected into the furnace channel 216 via the gas injection pump 286. [

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for thinning preformed glass sheets using a glass lead-low system. The glass lead-low system includes a lead-lower furnace having a plurality of heating units coupled to a furnace enclosure and configured to output heat into a furnace channel extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet. Wherein the readlow furnace includes a preheating zone, an attenuation zone, and an annealing zone, wherein when the plurality of heating units output heat into the furnace channel, the attenuation zone is higher than the preheating zone and the annealing zone A preformed glass sheet that reaches the temperature and traverses the lead low path can be heated to the softening temperature in the attenuation zone. The lead row system may further include thermal spreaders and thermal change gates configured to generate a sharp temperature gradient between the attenuation region and the adjacent furnace regions. Further, the glass lead-low system further comprises a plurality of roller assemblies coupled to the preformed glass sheet (or glass drawn therefrom) to guide the same through the furnace enclosure and apply a vertical tension to thin the preformed glass sheet . The systems and methods described herein consistently and efficiently reduce the thickness of a preformed glass sheet so that it has a uniform thickness over its width (and along its length) and a low warpage (i. E., Good flatness Systems and methods for forming a drawn glass sheet.

It is to be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter, and that various aspects of the claimed subject matter may be, Although these aspects need not be used in combination. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

It should be understood that the systems and methods for thinning preformed glass sheets using the glass lead low system described herein may be described in terms of many aspects. In a first aspect, a glass lead-low system includes a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, an attenuation heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure, a furnace inlet disposed between the furnace inlet and the attenuation heating unit, A preheating region, and a lead -low furnace having an annealing region located between the furnace outlet and the attenuation heating unit. Wherein the glass lead-low system further includes an attenuating heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure and configured to inhibit heat transfer between the attenuation heating unit and one of the preheating zone or the annealing zone along the furnace channel, And one or more column change gates extending into the furnace channel between one of the preheated region or the annealing region.

The second aspect includes the glass lead low system of the first aspect wherein the one or more thermal change gates are located upstream from the attenuation heating unit in the direction of conveyance between the attenuation heating unit and the preheating zone And a downstream heat exchange gate positioned downstream from the attenuation heating unit in the conveying direction between the attenuation heating unit and the annealing zone.

The third aspect includes the glass lead row system of the first or second aspects, wherein the one or more column change gates are each coupled to a first surface wall of the furnace enclosure and extend through the furnace channel, And a second gate portion coupled to the second surface wall of the furnace enclosure and extending longitudinally toward the lead path.

The fourth aspect includes the glass lead low system of the third aspect, wherein the one or more heat change gates are slidably coupled to the furnace enclosure such that the first gate portion and the second gate portion are in the longitudinal direction Each can move.

The fifth aspect includes the glass lead low sheath of the third or fourth aspect, wherein the first gate portion and the second gate portion are each longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an extended position, In the retracted position, the first gate portion and the second gate portion are removed from the furnace channel and at the extended position, the first gate portion and the second gate portion terminate in a longitudinally adjacent manner to the lead low path.

In a sixth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through fifth aspects further comprises a thermal spreader positioned between the attenuation heating unit and a lead-down path extending through the furnace channel, The thermal spreader is configured to distribute heat along the thermal spreader in the vertical and lateral directions.

In a seventh aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first to sixth aspects further includes a plurality of heating units, wherein the plurality of heating units are arranged in the attenuation heating unit, in the preheating zone A preheating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure, and an annealing heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure within the annealing area.

The eighth aspect includes the glass lead-low system of the seventh aspect, wherein when the plurality of heating units output heat into the furnace channel, the attenuation heating unit includes a preheating unit and an annealing heating unit And outputs heat at a higher temperature.

The ninth aspect includes the glass lead low system of the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein each of the plurality of heating units includes a plurality of laterally adjacent heating elements.

The tenth aspect includes the glass lead low system of the ninth aspect, wherein the attenuation heating unit includes more laterally adjacent heating elements than the preliminary heating unit and the annealing heating unit.

The eleventh aspect includes the glass lead low system of any combination of the seventh to tenth aspects, wherein the plurality of heating units each include a resistance heater, an induction heater, or a combination thereof.

The twelfth aspect includes the glass lead low system of any combination of the seventh to eleventh aspects, wherein the plurality of heating units output heat into the furnace channel, Lt; 0 > C and the annealing heating unit outputs heat at a temperature between about 700 [deg.] C and about 1000 [deg.] C.

The thirteenth aspect includes the glass lead low system of any combination of the seventh to twelfth aspects, wherein the furnace enclosure includes a first surface wall opposite the second surface wall, and the plurality of heating units The individual heating units being coupled to the first surface wall and the second surface wall at common vertical positions such that each individual heating unit coupled to the first surface wall comprises an individual heating unit coupled to the second surface wall, And are aligned in the longitudinal direction.

In a fourteenth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the seventh to thirteenth aspects further comprises a thermal spreader positioned between the individual heating units of the plurality of heating units and the lead-down path extending through the furnace channel And the thermal spreader is configured to distribute heat along the thermal spreader in the vertical and lateral directions.

In a fifteenth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through fourteenth aspects is located in one or more walls of a furnace enclosure and is configured to fluidically cool a fluid structurally configured to circulate the cooling fluid through the one or more fluid- And one or more fluid cooling channels fluidly coupled to the pumping system.

In a sixteenth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through fifteenth aspects includes one or more edge cooling bay ores that extend into the furnace channel and terminate adjacent a lead-low path extending through the furnace channel .

In a seventeenth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through sixteenth aspects includes one or more gas extraction tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned vertically downstream to the attenuation heating unit Wherein the at least one gas extraction tubes are structurally configured to remove gas from the furnace channel.

In an eighteenth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through seventeenth aspects includes one or more gas injection tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned vertically upstream of the attenuation heating unit Wherein the at least one gas injection tubes are structurally configured to inject gas into the furnace channel.

In a nineteenth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first to eighteenth aspects further comprises a plurality of roller assemblies positioned along a lead-low path extending through the furnace channel, The assemblies include an attuning roller assembly positioned downstream from the attunement heating unit in the transport direction and a collecting roller assembly positioned downstream from the atenueting roller assembly in the transport direction, And the collecting roller assembly each include one or more powered pair of rollers configured to engage and exert tension on the glass sheet.

In the twentieth aspect of the glass lead low system of the nineteenth aspect, the at least one power-driven pair of rollers of the atturning roller assembly and the collecting roller assembly operate in one of a torque mode and a speed mode, Wherein the rollers of the one or more powered pairs rotate at a constant torque and in the speed mode the rollers of the pair of one or more motors rotate at a constant speed.

In the twenty-first aspect of the glass lead low system of the nineteenth or twentieth aspect, the attuning roller assembly is adjustable between an extended position and a retracted position, and at the extended position, the roller cylinder of the attenuating roller assembly Is located at the edge of the lead path and at the retracted position, the roller cylinder of the ATTENUATING ROLLER assembly is removed from the lead path.

In the twenty-second aspect of the glass lead low system of any combination of the nineteenth to twenty-first aspects, the ATTENUATING ROLLER ASSEMBLY is rotatable about a roller joint in a vertically downward direction so that the ATT The at least one powering pair of rollers is engaged with the glass sheet so that when the attuning roller assembly is rotated in the vertical downward direction, the attenuating roller assembly applies tension to the glass sheet in the vertical and lateral directions do.

In a twenty-third aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through twenty-second aspects further comprises a supply unit engageable with the furnace inlet and configured to suspend a preformed glass sheet in the furnace channel.

The twenty-fourth aspect includes the glass lead low system of the twenty-third aspect, wherein the supply unit comprises a glass hanger system, the glass hanger system comprising a glass clamping base having a glass clamp capable of engaging with a preformed glass sheet, Wherein the hanger drive system comprises at least one suspension shaft coupled to and extending between the drive system and the glass clamping base, the hanger drive system being configured to move the glass clamping base and the one or more suspension shafts along a portion of a lead path extending through the furnace channel As shown in FIG.

The twenty-fifth aspect includes the glass lead low system of the twenty-fourth aspect, wherein the glass hanger system further comprises a catch cover engageable with the furnace enclosure for covering the furnace entrance of the furnace enclosure, Suspension shafts extend through the hanger cover.

In a twenty-sixth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through twenty-fifth aspects further includes a collecting unit, wherein a lead-low path extends through the furnace channel and ends at the collecting unit.

The twenty-seventh aspect includes the glass lead low system of the twenty-sixth aspect, wherein the import unit further includes a collection spool and a cutting device.

In a twenty-eighth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the first through twenty-seventh aspects further includes one or more pyrometers, one or more thermocouples, one or more glass thickness gauges, and one or more column line scanners .

The twenty-ninth aspect includes the glass lead low system of the twenty-eighth aspect, wherein at least one thermocouple is located within the furnace enclosure and at least one glass thickness gauge and at least one thermal line scanner are connected to the furnace outlet and the collecting unit .

In a thirty-second aspect, a glass lead-low system includes a lead-lower furnace having a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, and an attunement coupled to the furnace enclosure and structurally configured to output heat into the furnace enclosure. An attenuating roller assembly including a heating unit, a lead-down path extending through the furnace channel, and at least one power-paired pair of rollers extending into the furnace channel at a downstream location in the direction of travel of the attenuation heating unit, Wherein the rollers of the one or more powered pairs are adjustable between an extended position along the lead low path and a retracted position remote from the lead low path and wherein the rollers of the pair By coupling watts applies a tension to the pre-formed glass sheet.

31. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one power driven pair of rollers of the ATTENUATING ROLLER assembly comprises a roller shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end, Wherein each roller shaft is mechanically coupled to the roller drive system at the first shaft end and to the roller cylinder at the second shaft end.

The 32nd aspect includes the glass lead low system of the 31st aspect, wherein each roller cylinder of the one or more powered pair of rollers of the attuning roller assembly comprises a refractory material.

The thirty-third aspect includes the glass lead-down system of the thirty-first or the twenty-first aspect, wherein each roller shaft of the at least one power-driven pair of rollers of the attenuating roller assembly has one Or more liquid cooling channels.

The 34th aspect includes the glass lead low system of any combination of the 30th to 33rd aspects, wherein the pair of rollers having the at least one power of the attuning roller assembly operate in a torque mode, The pairs of the one or more powered rollers of the attuning roller assembly rotate at a constant torque.

The thirty-fifth aspect includes the glass lead-down system of any combination of the thirtieth to thirty-fourth aspects, wherein the attenuating roller assembly is rotatable in a vertically downward direction about a roller joint, Wherein the aturning roller assembly is coupled to the glass sheet in the vertical and lateral directions when the at least one power roller pair of the roller assembly is engaged with the glass sheet and the ATTING ROLLER assembly is rotated in the vertical down- Apply tension.

In a thirty-sixth aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the thirtieth to thirty-fifth aspects further comprises a collecting roller assembly having one or more pairs of power rollers positioned between the furnace outlet and the collecting unit , One or more pairs of power-bearing rollers are adjacent the lead-low path to engage the glass sheet to apply a vertical tension to the glass sheet.

The 37th aspect includes the glass lead low system of the 36th aspect, wherein the pair of rollers having the at least one power of the collecting roller assembly each include a roller shaft including a first shaft end and a second shaft end And each roller shaft is mechanically coupled to the roller drive system at the first shaft end and to the roller cylinder at the second shaft end.

The 38th aspect includes the glass lead low system of the 36th aspect or the 37th aspect, wherein each roller cylinder of the one or more powered rollers of the collection roller assembly includes a polymer material.

The 39th aspect includes the glass lead low system of any combination of the 36th to the 38th volumes to the 38th amount, wherein the one or more pairs of powered rollers of the collecting roller assembly operate in a speed mode, The pairs of rollers having at least one power of the collecting roller assembly rotate at a constant speed.

The fortieth aspect includes the glass lead low system of any combination of the thirty-sixth to thirty-ninth aspects, wherein the lead low path extends through the furnace channel and ends at the collecting unit, The pairs of one or more powered rollers are adjustable between an extended position along the lead-low path and a retracted position further from the lead-low path.

In a forty-first aspect, the glass lead low system of any combination of the thirtieth to thirty aspects further includes a locating roller assembly extending into the furnace channel at a location upstream of the attunement heating unit in the transport direction Wherein the locating roller assembly is adjustable between an extended position along the lead low path and a retracted position remote from the lead low path.

In the forty-second aspect, the glass lead-low system of any combination of the thirtieth to thirty-first aspects may further comprise a plurality of heating units, wherein the plurality of heating units are connected to an attenuator coupled to the furnace enclosure in an attenuation zone, A preheating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure in the preheating zone, and an annealing heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure in the annealing zone.

The 43th aspect includes the glass lead-low system of the 42nd aspect, wherein when the plurality of heating units output heat into the furnace channel, the attenuation heating unit includes a preheating unit and an annealing heating unit And outputs heat at a higher temperature.

In a thirty-fourth aspect, a method of thinning a preformed glass sheet includes a step of hanging a preformed glass sheet in a lead -low furnace using a supply unit. The lead low furnace includes a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet and a plurality of heating units coupled to the furnace enclosure and structurally configured to output heat into the furnace enclosure. The method includes heating the preformed glass sheet using the plurality of heating units to heat at least a portion of the preformed glass sheet to a deterioration temperature, conveying the first and second surfaces of the preformed glass sheet With at least one agitating roller assembly extending into the furnace channel at a location downstream of one or more attenuation heating units of the plurality of heating units in the direction of the aturning heating roller assembly, And applying a vertical tension to the preformed glass sheet to thin the preformed glass sheet as the preformed glass sheet moves in the transport direction.

The forty-fifth aspect includes the method of the forty-fourth aspect, wherein the at least one roller cylinder of the ATTENUATING ROLLER assembly rotates in the torque mode.

In the forty-sixth aspect, the method of either the forty-fourth aspect or the forty-fifth aspect is characterized in that the drawn glass from the first surface and the second surface of the preformed glass sheet is guided in the carrying direction by the attenuating roller assembly and the furnace With a collection roller assembly located downstream of the outlet.

In a forty-fourth aspect, the method of the forty-sixth aspect further includes disengaging the attuning roller assembly from the preformed glass sheet when the preformed glass sheet is engaged with the collecting roller assembly.

In the forty-eighth aspect, the method of the forty-sixth aspect or the forty-fourth aspect further includes applying a vertical tension to the preformed glass sheet by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the collecting roller assembly.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the one or more roller cylinders of the collecting roller assembly rotate in a speed mode.

In a fifty-fifth aspect, the method of any combination of the forty-fourth to fortieth aspects further includes the step of receiving the drawn glass from the preformed glass sheet using a collection unit located downstream of the furnace outlet do.

The fifty-first aspect includes the method of the fifty-second aspect, wherein when the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet is received by the collecting unit, the glass drawn from the preformed glass sheet has a thickness .

The 52nd aspect includes the above method of any combination of the 44th to 51st aspects, wherein the feeding unit comprises a glass hanger system, the glass hanger system comprising a glass clamp capable of engaging with a preformed glass sheet Wherein the holder has a glass clamping base and a hanger drive system and at least one suspension shaft coupled to and extending between the glass clamping base, the hanger drive system extending the glass clamping base and the one or more suspension shafts through the furnace channel Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > and / or < / RTI >

53. The method of claim 53, wherein the method of the fifty-second aspect further comprises moving the glass clamping base and the preformed glass sheet in the transport direction, and moving the glass And stopping the movement of the clamping base and the preformed glass sheet.

In a fifty-fourth aspect, the method of any combination of the forty-fourth to the fifty-third aspects further comprises positioning the preformed glass sheet in the locating roller assembly when the preformed glass sheet is longitudinally adjacent to the locating roller assembly. And disengaging the locating roller assembly from the preformed glass sheet when the preformed glass sheet is engaged with the attenuating roller assembly.

The fifty-fifth aspect includes the method of any one of the forty-fourth to forty-fourth aspects, wherein when the plurality of heating units output heat to the furnace channel, the at least one attenuation heating units may include one or more And outputs heat at a higher temperature than the remaining heating units.

The fifty-sixth aspect includes the above-described method of any combination of the forty-fourth to fifty-fifth aspects, wherein the pre-formed glass sheet comprises a laminated glass sheet.

The fifty-seventh aspect includes the method of any combination of the forty-fourth to fifty-fifth aspects, wherein the preformed donor glass sheet comprises a spooled glass sheet.

Claims (16)

A furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, an attenuation heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure, a preheating zone positioned between the furnace inlet and the attenuation heating unit, A lead-lower furnace including an annealing region located between the outlet and the attenuation heating unit; And
A furnace enclosure having a furnace enclosure and a furnace enclosure, the furnace enclosure comprising: a furnace enclosure; and an attenuation heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure and extending into the furnace channel between one of the preheating zone or the annealing zone and the attenuation zone, And one or more column change gates for inhibiting heat transfer along the furnace channel. The method according to claim 1,
The one or more column change gates,
An upstream heat exchange gate located upstream of the attenuation heating unit in a transport direction between the attenuation heating unit and the preheating zone; And
And a downstream heat exchange gate located downstream of the attenuation heating unit in the transport direction between the attenuation heating zone and the annealing zone. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the at least one column change gate comprises a first gate portion coupled to a first surface wall of the furnace enclosure and extending longitudinally toward a lead path that extends through the furnace channel and a second gate portion extending to the second surface wall of the furnace enclosure, And a second gate portion coupled and longitudinally extending toward the lead path, wherein the one or more column change gates are slidably coupled to the furnace enclosure such that the first gate portion and the second gate portion are And wherein the glass lead-in system is movable in the longitudinal direction. A furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, and an attunement heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure and structured to output heat into the furnace enclosure;
A lead-down path extending through the furnace channel; And
And an attenuating roller assembly including a pair of rollers having a driving force that extends into the furnace channel at a position downstream of the attenuation heating unit in the transport direction,
Wherein the pair of rollers having the power is adjustable between an extended position along the reedlow path and a retracted position far from the reedrow path and wherein the one or more rollers having the power apply a vertical tension to the preformed glass sheet The glass sheet is bonded to the pre-
Wherein the at least one power roller of the aturning roller assembly includes a roller shaft including a first shaft end and a second shaft end, each roller shaft having a roller drive system at the first shaft end, Mechanically coupled and coupled to the roller cylinder at the second shaft end,
Wherein when the at least one power roller of the attuning roller assembly is actuated, the at least two power rollers of the attenuating roller assembly operate in a torque mode to rotate at a constant torque Wherein the glass lead-lower system is a glass lead-out system. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Further comprising a heat spreader positioned between the attenuation heating unit and a lead path extending through the furnace channel, the heat spreader being configured to distribute heat along the heat spreader in the vertical and lateral directions Features a glass lead low system. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
One or more gas extraction tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned vertically downstream of the attenuation heating unit; And
One or more gas injection tubes fluidly coupled to the furnace channel and positioned vertically upstream of the attenuation heating unit; Further comprising at least one of:
Wherein the at least one gas extraction tubes are structurally configured to remove gas from the furnace channel,
Wherein the at least one gas injection tubes are structurally configured to inject gas into the furnace channel. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Further comprising a supply unit coupled to the furnace inlet and configured to suspend a preformed glass sheet in the furnace channel,
Wherein the supply unit comprises a glass hanger system,
The glass hanger system includes a glass clamping base having a glass clamp engageable with a preformed glass sheet, one or more suspension shafts coupled and extending between the hanger drive system and the glass clamping base, And a hanger cover engageable with the furnace enclosure,
Wherein the latch drive system is structurally configured to move the glass clamping base and the one or more suspension shafts along a portion of a lead path that extends through the furnace channel,
Wherein the one or more suspension shafts extend through the hanger cover. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Further comprising a collecting unit,
A lead-low path extends through the furnace channel, ends at the collecting unit,
Wherein the collecting unit further comprises a collecting spool and a cutting device. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the attenuating roller assembly is rotatable about a roller joint in a vertically downward direction so that at least a pair of rollers having the power of the ATTENUATING ROLLER ASSEMBLY are coupled to the glass sheet, Wherein the atethiating roller assembly applies tension to the glass sheet in the vertical and lateral directions as it is rotated in the downstream direction. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Further comprising a collection roller assembly including a pair of rollers having power located between the furnace outlet and the collection unit,
The pair of rollers having the power is adjacent to the lead low path so as to be able to engage with the glass sheet so as to apply a normal tension to the glass sheet,
Wherein the one or more power rollers of the collecting roller assembly each include a roller shaft including a first shaft end and a second shaft end,
Each roller shaft being mechanically coupled to the roller drive system at the first shaft end and coupled to the roller cylinder at the second shaft end,
Wherein the roller cylinder of the one or more power rollers having the power of the collecting roller assembly comprises a polymeric material. The method according to claim 4 or 9,
Further comprising a plurality of heating units,
The plurality of heating units comprising an attenuation heating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure in an attenuation zone, a preheating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure in a preheating zone, and a preheating unit coupled to the furnace enclosure in the annealing zone, A heating unit,
Characterized in that when the plurality of heating units output heat into the furnace channel, the attenuation heating unit outputs heat at a higher temperature than each of the preheating unit and the annealing heating unit, . Hanging a preformed glass sheet in the lead-lined furnace using a supply unit;
Heating the preformed glass sheet using a plurality of heating units so that at least a portion of the preformed glass sheet is heated to a softening temperature;
Combining the first surface and the second surface of the preformed glass sheet with the attuning roller assembly extending into the furnace channel at a location downstream of the at least one attenuation heating units of the plurality of heating units in the transport direction; And
Applying a vertical tension to the preformed glass sheet by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the ATTENUATING ROLLER ASSEMBLY such that the thickness of the preformed glass sheet is reduced as the preformed glass sheet moves in the transport direction Including,
Said lead-lower furnace comprising a furnace enclosure having a furnace channel extending between a furnace inlet and a furnace outlet, and a plurality of said heating units coupled to said furnace enclosure and structurally configured to output heat into said furnace enclosure ≪ / RTI > wherein the preformed glass sheet is thinned. The method of claim 12,
Coupling the drawn glass from the first surface and the second surface of the preformed glass sheet to a collecting roller assembly located downstream of the attenuating roller assembly and the furnace exit in the transport direction;
Disassembling the attenetting roller assembly from the preformed glass sheet when the preformed glass sheet is engaged with the collecting roller assembly;
Further comprising applying a vertical tension to the preformed glass sheet by rotating one or more roller cylinders of the collection roller assembly,
Wherein the one or more roller cylinders of the collecting roller assembly rotate in a speed mode. ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 20 > The method according to claim 12 or 13,
Wherein the supply unit comprises a glass hanger system,
The glass hanger system comprising a glass clamping base having a glass clamp engageable with a preformed glass sheet and one or more suspension shafts coupled and extending between the hanger driving system and the glass clamping base,
Wherein the latch drive system is structurally configured to move the glass clamping base and the one or more suspension shafts along a portion of a lead path that extends through the furnace channel,
The method includes moving the glass clamping base and the preformed glass sheet in the transport direction, and moving the glass clamping base and the preformed glass sheet when the preformed glass sheet is engaged with the attenuating roller assembly. ≪ / RTI > stopping movement of the preformed glass sheet. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14,
Engaging the locating roller assembly with the preformed glass sheet when the preformed glass sheet is longitudinally adjacent to the locating roller assembly, and when the preformed glass sheet is engaged with the attenuating roller assembly Further comprising disengaging the locating roller assembly from the preformed glass sheet. ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > 11. < / RTI > The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15,
Characterized in that when the plurality of heating units output heat into the furnace channel, the one or more attenuation heating units output heat at a higher temperature than the one or more remaining heating units. Way.

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