TW201904892A - Glass forming apparatuses with moveable end block assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A glass forming apparatus including a forming body including first and second forming surfaces. An end block assembly includes an end plate and a moveable support apparatus located on the end plate. The moveable support apparatus includes first and second plates that rest on the end plate. The first plate comprising a front edge that faces the forming body of the glass forming apparatus and a rear edge that faces away from the forming body. The second plate includes a front edge that faces the forming body and a rear edge that faces away from the forming body. One of the first second plates includes a rolling element track that receives ends of a plurality of rolling elements located between the first and second plates.

Description

Glass forming equipment with movable end block assembly

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/519,507, filed on Jun.

This description relates generally to glass forming equipment and, more particularly, to glass forming apparatus having a movable end block assembly.

The fusion process is a technique for forming a glass ribbon. The fusion process produces a glass ribbon having a relatively small amount of defects and a surface having superior flatness as compared to other processes for forming a glass ribbon, such as floating and channel drag processing. As a result, the fusion treatment is widely used for the production of glass substrates used in the manufacture of LEDs and LCD displays, and other substrates requiring superior flatness and smoothness.

In the fusion process, the molten glass is fed into a shaped body comprising a forming surface that converges at the bottom edge. The molten glass flows uniformly over the forming surface of the shaped body and forms a flat glass ribbon having a rustic surface that is drawn from the bottom edge of the shaped body.

The shaped body is typically made of a refractory material such as a refractory ceramic and is capable of withstanding the relatively high temperatures of the fusion process. Due to the high operating temperatures and the gravitational load caused by the forming body itself, the forming body may sag over time. This can result in a flow rate of molten glass that varies along the shaped body and can affect the final glass quality. Currently, the horizontal compressive force is used to control the sagging of the shaped body. The challenge of applying a horizontal compressive force is that once the compressive force is applied, the shaped body may expand due to the operating temperature and contract during the cooling period and the contraction of the bottom edge.

Therefore, it is necessary to apply a horizontal compressive force at the end of the shaped body while allowing expansion and contraction of the shaped body.

According to one embodiment, a glass forming apparatus includes: a forming body including a first forming surface and a second forming surface; an end block assembly comprising: an end plate; and a movable support device positioned on the end plate, the movable support device comprising a first plate and a second plate placed on the end plate, the first plate comprising a front edge facing the forming body of the glass forming apparatus and a rear edge facing away from the forming body, the second plate comprising a front edge facing the forming body and facing away from the forming a rear edge of the body; and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the first plate and the second plate; and wherein one of the first plate and the second plate includes a rolling element track, the rolling element track receiving the plurality of rolling elements Extending between a front edge and a rear edge of at least one of the first plate and the second plate of the end.

In another embodiment, a glass forming apparatus includes: a forming body including a first forming surface and a second forming surface; and an end block assembly comprising: an end block engaged with an end surface of the forming body; and an end plate positioned at the end block Lower and vertically supporting the end block; and a movable supporting device positioned between the end block and the end plate, the movable supporting device comprising: a bottom plate placed on the end plate, the bottom plate comprising a front surface of the forming body facing the glass forming device An edge and a rear edge away from the forming body; a top plate on which the end block is placed, the top plate including a front edge facing the forming body and a rear edge facing away from the forming body; and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the bottom plate and the top plate; The bottom plate includes a retaining lip positioned at a rear edge of the bottom panel, and the top panel includes a retention stop positioned at a front edge of the top panel.

In another embodiment, the movable support apparatus is configured to be positioned between an end block of the end block assembly of the glass forming apparatus and the end plate, the movable support apparatus comprising: a bottom plate placed on the end plate, the bottom plate comprising a glass-facing surface a front edge of the forming body of the apparatus and a rear edge away from the forming body; a top plate on which the end block is placed, the top panel comprising a front edge facing the forming body and a rear edge facing away from the forming body; and a plurality of rolling elements positioned on the bottom plate and Between the top plates; wherein the top plate includes rolling element tracks that extend between a front edge and a rear edge of the top plate configured to receive the ends of the plurality of rolling elements.

Additional features and advantages of the glass forming apparatus described herein will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. , including the following detailed description, the scope of patent application and the accompanying drawings.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general descriptions A further understanding of the various embodiments is provided by the accompanying drawings and is incorporated in and constitute The drawings illustrate the various embodiments described herein, and together with the specification,

Reference will now be made to the details of embodiments of the glass forming apparatus, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the The glass forming apparatus can include a forming body including a first forming surface and a second forming surface. The first forming surface and the second forming surface converge at the bottom edge. The shaped body is supported at the opposite end by end blocks. The end blocks are positioned at opposite ends of the forming body to support the forming body vertically below the hanging portion of the forming body. The end block can also be used to apply a horizontal compressive force to the end of the shaped body to inhibit or control sagging at the bottom edge. The compression device can apply a horizontal compressive force to one of the end blocks that transmits a compressive force to the end of the shaped body. The movable support device supports the end block such that the end block can move linearly in the horizontal direction to apply a horizontal compressive force to the end of the shaped block. Various embodiments of the movable support apparatus and method for movably supporting the end blocks of the glass forming apparatus will be further described herein with reference to particular drawings.

Directional vocabulary as used herein, such as up, down, left, right, front, back, top, and bottom, is only for the purpose of drawing a reference, and should not be intended to imply an absolute orientation.

Unless otherwise specifically stated, it is not intended that any method described herein be required to perform its steps in a particular order, and does not require the orientation of any particular device. Therefore, when a method request item does not actually describe the order followed by its steps, or any device request item does not actually record the order or orientation of the individual components, or the steps are not specifically stated in the request or specification The order or orientation is not intended to be implied in any way, when a particular order is limited, or when a particular order or orientation of the components of the device is not recited. The basis for any unexplained possibilities explained by this reservation includes: logical matters relating to step arrangement, operational flow, component order or component orientation; general meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; and number of embodiments described in the specification Or type.

As used herein, the singular "a", "the" Thus, for example, reference to "a" or "an"

Referring to Fig. 1, a glass forming apparatus 10 for manufacturing a glass article such as a glass ribbon body 12 is schematically depicted. The glass forming apparatus 10 can generally include a melting vessel 15 configured to receive batch material 16 from the storage tank 18. The batch material 16 can be introduced into the molten vessel 15 by a batch delivery device 20 powered by a motor 22. An optional controller 24 can be provided to activate the motor 22, and a molten glass level probe 28 can be used to measure the glass melting level in the riser 30 and communicate the measured information to the controller 24.

The glass forming apparatus 10 may also include a refining vessel 38, such as a refining tube, coupled to the melting vessel 15 by means of a first connecting tube 36. The mixing vessel 42 is coupled to the refining vessel 38 with a second connecting tube 40. Delivery container 46 is coupled to mixing vessel 42 with delivery conduit 44. As further illustrated, the lower conduit 48 is positioned to deliver a glass melt from the delivery container 46 to the inlet 50 of the forming body 60. In the embodiment illustrated and described herein, the shaped body 60 is a melt-formed container.

The melting vessel 15 is typically made of a refractory material, such as a refractory brick (e.g., ceramic). The glass forming apparatus 10 may further comprise a component, typically made of a conductive refractory metal, such as platinum or a platinum-containing metal, such as platinum-ruthenium, platinum-ruthenium, and combinations thereof. Such refractory metals may also include molybdenum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, titanium, tungsten, ruthenium, osmium, zirconium and alloys thereof and/or zirconium dioxide. The platinum-containing component can include one or more of a first connecting tube 36, a refining container 38, a second connecting tube 40, a standpipe 30, a mixing container 42, a delivery conduit 44, a delivery container 46, a downcomer 48, and an inlet 50.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the forming body 60 generally includes a sump 61, a first forming surface 62, and a second forming surface 64. The collecting trough 61 is positioned in the upper portion 65 of the forming body 60. The first forming surface 62 and the second forming surface 64 extend from the upper portion 65 of the forming body 60 in a downstream direction (i.e., the z-direction of the coordinate axis depicted in the drawings) and converge toward each other, engaging at the bottom edge 70 . The bottom edge 70 forms the lower edge of the shaped body 60. Accordingly, it should be understood that the first forming surface 62 and the second forming surface 64 form an inverted isosceles (or equilateral) triangle extending from the upper portion 65 of the forming body 60 with the bottom edge 70 forming the lowest vertex of the triangle in the downstream direction. . The traction plane 72 substantially bisects the angle θ between the first forming surface 62 and the second forming surface 64, extending through the bottom edge 70 in a +/- y direction.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 3, in operation, batch material 16, particularly bulk material for forming glass, is fed from storage tank 18 to batch vessel 20 into molten vessel 15. The batch material 16 is melted in the melting vessel 15 into molten glass. The molten glass passes through the melting vessel 15 and passes through the first connecting pipe 36 to the refining vessel 38. The dissolved gas that can cause glass defects is removed from the molten glass in the refining vessel 38. The molten glass then passes through the refining vessel 38 and passes through the second connecting tube 40 to the mixing vessel 42. The mixing vessel 42 homogenizes the molten glass, for example by agitation, and the homogenized molten glass passes through a delivery conduit 44 to a delivery container 46. The delivery container 46 discharges the homogenized molten glass through the downcomer 48 and into the inlet 50, and subsequently delivers the homogenized molten glass into the sump 61 of the forming body 60.

The homogenized molten glass fills the collecting groove 61 of the forming body 60, and finally overflows, flows out of the upper portion 65 of the forming body 60, and flows in the downstream direction. The homogenized molten glass flows from the upper portion of the forming body 60 and flows onto the first forming surface 62 and the second forming surface 64. The homogenized molten glass flowing on the first forming surface 62 and the second forming surface 64 is joined at the bottom edge 70 and fused together (and thus "melted") to form a glass ribbon 12, the glass ribbon Pulling on the traction plane 72 in the downstream direction by a pulling roller (not shown). The glass ribbon body 12 can be further processed downstream of the forming body 60, such as by dividing the glass ribbon body 12 into discrete glass sheets, rolling on the glass ribbon body 12 itself, and/or applying one or more to the glass ribbon body 12. Secondary coating.

The forming body 60 is typically formed of a refractory ceramic material that is chemically compatible with the molten glass and that is capable of withstanding the high temperatures associated with the fusion forming process. Typical materials that form the shaped body include, but are not limited to, refractory ceramics based on zircon and/or alumina. At the combined mass of the forming body 60 and the molten glass, and at the temperature at which the fusion forming treatment is elevated, the forming body 60 tends to hang down in the downstream direction along its length L due to material deformation. This sag is most pronounced at the unsupported midpoint of the length L of the shaped body 60.

The sag in the forming body 60 can cause the homogenized molten glass flowing over the forming surfaces 62, 64 to redistribute, creating a non-uniform flow of molten glass on the forming surfaces 62, 64, resulting in a dimensional property of the resulting glass ribbon 12. Change. For example, the thickness of the glass ribbon body 12 may increase due to sagging near the center of the glass ribbon body. Moreover, the redistribution of molten glass flowing along the length L toward the center of the forming surfaces 62, 64 due to sagging causes a decrease in glass flow near the end of the forming body 60, resulting in +/- x of the coordinate axes depicted in the drawings. The non-uniformity of the dimensions of the glass ribbon body 12 in the direction.

Embodiments of the glass forming apparatus 10 and forming body 60 described herein mitigate sagging in the forming body 60, reduce stress on the forming body, and stabilize dimensional features of the glass ribbon 12.

Referring to Figure 2, the glass forming apparatus 10 includes a pair of end block assemblies 100 and 102 that can be used to apply a horizontal compressive force to the forming body 60 in the +/- y direction. In the embodiment described herein, each end block assembly 100 and 102 includes end blocks 104 and 106 that engage end faces 108 and 110 of forming body 60. The end blocks 104, 106 can be positioned on respective end plates 112 and 114 that are statically secured to ground such that the end blocks 104 and 106 are supported in the +z direction.

In an embodiment, the end blocks 104 and 106 and the end plates 112 and 114 may be formed to withstand the relatively high temperature refractory ceramic material that is melt processed. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, zircon, alumina, tantalum carbide, and/or xenotime. Alternatively, the end blocks may be suitable for alloy formation for elevated temperatures, such as cobalt based and/or nickel based alloys.

104 and end block 106 one or both may be shifted toward each other, such that the end blocks 104 and 106 in parallel to give shaped body 60 forming the length L of the main body 60 of the compressive force F _c. That is, the compressive force F _c is substantially parallel to the +/- x direction of the coordinate axis. In an embodiment, the compressive force F _c is applied to the end surfaces 108 and 110 at or below the center of mass of the shaped body 60, so that the compressive force F _c, or directly adjacent to the bottom 70 of main body 60 forming an edge effect. In certain embodiments, one end of the block (e.g., an end block 106) may be fixed to the other end by a reaction at block (e.g., an end block 104) applied compressive force F _C is applied compressive force F _c .

Applied to the shaping body 60 and the end surface 108 downstream direction over the compression force F _c 110 at a bending moment along the length L established at the midpoint of the shaped body 60. This bending moment counteracts sagging at the bottom edge 70 of the forming body 60, mitigating dimensional variations in the glass ribbon body 12 formed by the forming body 60.

Figure 4 illustrates the end block assembly 100 of the glass forming apparatus 10 in more detail. The end block assembly 100 includes a movable end block 104 and an end plate 112 that is fixed relative to the end block 102. Compression system 120 may be used to spare block 122 engages the end block 104 and a compression force F _c is applied to the end block 102. The movable support device 124 is positioned between the end block 104 and the end plate 112. The movable support device 124 includes a top plate 126 on which the end block 104 is placed, and a bottom plate 128 placed on the end plate 112. A plurality of rolling elements 130 can be positioned between the top plate 126 and the bottom plate 128 to facilitate movement of the top plate 126 relative to the bottom plate 128. The top plate 126 move relative to the base plate 128 also allows the end block 104 with respect to the horizontal movement of the end plate 112, for example, the level of compressive force F _c is applied may be desired, and is also within the conditions during heating and cooling in the horizontal direction adaptation The expansion and contraction of the shaped body 60 is desirable. For example, the shaped body 60 can achieve expansion and contraction of 5 cm or more in the horizontal +/- x direction.

Rolling elements 130 may be provided to facilitate movement of the bottom plate 126 relative to the bottom plate 128. For example, rolling element 130 can be a cylindrical rod. As the top plate 126 moves horizontally relative to the bottom plate 128, the rolling elements 130 move relative to the bottom plate 128. In this manner, for example, it is intended to limit the movement of the rolling elements 130 to at least one of the opposing edges 132 and 134 of the bottom plate 128 to avoid rolling elements 130 from falling out of the movable support device 124 and toward the traction plane of the glass.

Referring to Figure 5, the bottom panel 128 is illustrated separately and includes a rear edge 132 that faces away from the forming body 60, a front edge 134 that faces the forming body 60, and side edges 136 and 138 that extend between the trailing edge 132 and the leading edge 134. The retention lip 140 is positioned along the trailing edge 132 and extends away from the plane of the rolling surface 142. In the illustrated example, the retention lip 140 extends continuously along the entire length of the trailing edge 132. In other embodiments, the retention lip may extend only over a portion of the trailing edge 132 and/or may have a plurality of spaced apart retention lips positioned along the trailing edge 132. The retention lip 140 may or may not be integral with the base plate 128 or be a single piece portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining lip 140 is formed as a single piece of the bottom plate 128; however, the retaining lip 140 can be integrally formed and attached along the trailing edge 132.

As can be appreciated, the retaining lip is provided as a backstop to inhibit movement of the rolling element 130 beyond the trailing edge 132 of the bottom plate 128. Referring now to Figure 6, the top plate 126 is illustrated separately and includes a front edge 144 that faces the forming body 60, a rear edge 146 that faces away from the forming body 60, and side edges 148 and 150 that extend between the leading edge 144 and the trailing edge 146. . Side walls 152 and 154 extend along side edges 148 and 150. The sidewalls 152 and 154 can extend integrally or in one piece from the rolling surface 156. Each of the side walls 152 and 154 can provide rolling element rails 158 and 160 with a retaining flange 162 that is sized to extend below the end of the rolling element 130. Rolling element rails 158 and 160 can extend over the entire length of side edges 148 and 150.

Hold stops 164 and 166 are provided at front edge 144 of rolling element rails 158 and 160. The retaining stops 164 and 166 can be formed in one piece with the side walls 152 and 154, or the retaining stops 164 and 166 can be formed separately and then integrated into the rolling element tracks 158 and 160 of the side walls 152 and 154. Pick up. The retaining stops 164 and 166 block the rolling element tracks 158 and 160 at the front edge 144 of the top plate 126.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the movable support device 124 operating on the end plate 112. Referring first to FIG. 7, the top plate 126 illustrated in a first extended position, wherein the bottom plate 128 top plate 126 from moving beyond the front edge 134 by a distance of d _1. The end 170 of the rolling element 130 is received within the rolling element tracks 158 and 160, and the rolling element 130 rolls along the rolling surface 142 of the bottom plate 128 and the rolling surface 156 of the top plate 126 to promote the level of the end block 104 relative to the end plate 112. mobile.

Referring to FIG. 8, top panel 126 illustrating the second extended position, wherein the top plate 126 moves away from the front edge of the base plate 128 over the further section 134 d _2. The top plate 126 is moved a distance d ₂ such that certain rolling elements 130 travel past the front edge 134 of the bottom plate 128. As described above, the rolling element rails 158 and 160 are formed using the retaining flange 162. As can be seen, the retaining flange 162 is positioned below the rolling surface 142 of the bottom plate 128 and does not engage the rolling elements 130 unless the rolling elements 130 travel past the leading edge 134 of the bottom plate 128. The retaining flange 162 provides a support surface for the end 170 of the rolling element 130 such that the rolling element 130 does not fall vertically from the rolling element rails 158 and 160 without having the bottom plate 128 supporting the rolling element 130. Again, retention stops 164 and 166 are provided in rolling element tracks 158 and 160 to prevent rolling element 130 from rolling by front edge 144 of top plate 126, thereby maintaining rolling element 130 even in the absence of bottom plate 128. Between the rolling element tracks 158 and 160.

FIG. 9 separately illustrates another embodiment of the top plate 176 and includes a front edge 178 that faces the forming body 60, a rear edge 180 that faces away from the forming body 60, and a side edge 182 that extends between the front edge 178 and the rear edge 180. And 184. Side walls 186 and 188 extend along side edges 182 and 184. Each of the side walls 186 and 188 provides a retaining flange 194 to the rolling element rails 190 and 192 that is sized to receive the end of the rolling element 130 in a similar manner as described above.

In this embodiment, no retaining stops are provided to fill the rolling element rails 190 and 192. Alternatively, the retention stop 196 is provided as a retention lip that extends along the front edge 178 of the top plate 176 and extends out of the plane formed by the rolling surface 198. In the illustrated example, the retention stop 196 extends continuously only along a portion of the length of the front edge 178, leaving open areas 200 and 202 at the opposite ends 204 and 206 of the retention stop 196. These open areas 200 and 202 provide access to the side walls 186 and 188 for forming rolling element tracks 190 and 192. In other embodiments, there may be multiple, spaced apart retention stops positioned along the front edge 178. The retention stop 196 may or may not be a single piece of the top plate 176. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining stop 196 is part of the top plate 176 and is a single piece construction.

Referring to Figure 10, in another embodiment, a multi-level movable support device 210 can be provided. In this embodiment, the movable support device 210 includes a bottom plate 212, an intermediate top plate 214, and a top plate 216, and has a plurality of rolling elements 218 interposed between the bottom plate 212 and the intermediate top plate 214 and between the intermediate top plate 214 and the top plate 216. The retaining lips 220 and 222 are provided to prevent the plurality of rolling elements 218 from moving to move beyond the trailing edges 224 and 226 of the intermediate top plate 214 and the top plate 216. Holding stops 225 and 227 are also provided along leading edges 228 and 229 to avoid movement of the plurality of rolling elements 218 and to move beyond leading edges 228 and 229.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of a movable support device 230 including a capture tray 232 provided at a front edge 234 of the bottom plate 236. The capture tray 232 can be coupled to the bottom plate 236 and includes an elongated support volume 238 for receiving and retaining the rolling elements 240 that fall from the front edge 234 of the bottom plate 236. The capture tray 232 can be an open end and face a space 246 between the bottom plate 236 and the top plate 244. The front wall 248 of the capture tray 232 can extend vertically upward beyond the bottom plate 236 and provide a check back when the rolling element 240 passes the front edge 234 of the bottom plate 236 to guide the rolling elements 240 into the maintenance volume 238. The height and volume of the capture tray 232 can be selected based on the travel distance of the top plate 244 pre-selected in operation to be sized to capture the number of pre-selected rolling elements 240. As illustrated, the capture tray 232 can be sized to stack the rolling elements 240 in a single column; however, any suitable volume shape can be used for capturing the tray 232. For example, the capture tray 232 can be additionally used, or the capture tray 232 can be used in the absence of a retention stop positioned at the front edge 242 of the top plate 244.

Referring to Fig. 12, in another embodiment, the movable support apparatus 250 can maintain the initial spacing and position of the rolling elements 254 with removable spacers 252a, 252b, and 252c until operation of the glass forming apparatus. For example, the removable spacers 252a, 252b, and 252c may be formed of a material (eg, paper) that is combustible or collapsed at the glass forming operating temperature to then allow the rolling elements 254 to roll and provide an initial spacing to reduce the rolling elements 254 will travel beyond the likelihood of the front and/or rear edges 256 and 258 of the bottom plate 260.

Referring briefly to Figure 13, although the rolling elements discussed above are used with a movable support device, other movable elements, such as low friction contact plates 260 and 262, may also be used. As an example, a low friction coating such as a dry lubricant (eg, graphite) can be used to facilitate sliding between the contact plates 260 and 262.

The components of the movable support apparatus described above can be made of any suitable material, including relatively high temperature refractory ceramic materials suitable for withstanding fusion processing. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, zircon, alumina, tantalum carbide, and/or xenotime. The component may be formed from an alloy suitable for use at elevated temperatures, such as cobalt based and/or nickel based alloys.

Based on the above, it will now be appreciated that the above-described movable support apparatus facilitates horizontal movement of the end block, towards and away from its associated shaped body relative to the end plate. The movable support device has rolling element retention features to inhibit escape of the rolling elements during operation while providing freedom of movement of the top plate of the movable support device relative to the base plate.

Various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Therefore, the description is intended to cover the modifications and variations of the various embodiments described herein, as such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

10‧‧‧glass forming equipment

12‧‧‧glass ribbon

15‧‧‧Melt container

16‧‧‧ batch materials

18‧‧‧Storage box

20‧‧‧Batch delivery device

22‧‧‧Motor

24‧‧‧ Controller

28‧‧‧Probe

30‧‧‧ standpipe

36‧‧‧First connecting tube

38‧‧‧Refining containers

40‧‧‧Second connection tube

42‧‧‧Mixed container

44‧‧‧ delivery catheter

46‧‧‧ delivery container

48‧‧‧Down catheter

50‧‧‧ entrance

60‧‧‧ Forming subject

61‧‧‧ Set trough

62‧‧‧First forming surface

64‧‧‧Second forming surface

65‧‧‧ upper part

70‧‧‧ bottom edge

72‧‧‧ traction plane

100‧‧‧End block assembly

102‧‧‧End block components

104‧‧‧End block

106‧‧‧End block

108‧‧‧ end face

110‧‧‧ end face

112‧‧‧End board

114‧‧‧End board

120‧‧‧Compression system

122‧‧‧ spare block

124‧‧‧Mobile support equipment

126‧‧‧ top board

128‧‧‧floor

130‧‧‧ rolling elements

132‧‧‧back edge

134‧‧‧ front edge

136‧‧‧ side edge

138‧‧‧ side edge

140‧‧‧ Keep the lips

142‧‧‧ rolling surface

144‧‧‧ front edge

146‧‧‧ After the edge

148‧‧‧ side edge

150‧‧‧ side edge

152‧‧‧ side wall

154‧‧‧ side wall

156‧‧‧ rolling surface

158‧‧‧Rolling element track

160‧‧‧Rolling element track

162‧‧‧ Keep the flange

164‧‧‧Maintenance stop

166‧‧‧Maintenance stop

170‧‧‧

176‧‧‧ top board

178‧‧‧ front edge

180‧‧‧back edge

182‧‧‧ side edge

184‧‧‧ side edge

186‧‧‧ side wall

188‧‧‧ side wall

190‧‧‧ rolling element track

192‧‧‧ rolling element track

194‧‧‧ Keep the flange

196‧‧‧Maintenance stop

198‧‧‧ rolling surface

200‧‧‧Open area

202‧‧‧Open area

204‧‧‧ opposite end

206‧‧‧ opposite end

210‧‧‧Mobile support equipment

212‧‧‧floor

214‧‧‧Intermediate top board

216‧‧‧ top board

218‧‧‧ rolling elements

220‧‧‧ Keep the lips

222‧‧‧ Keep the lips

224 ‧ ‧ rear edge

225‧‧‧Maintenance stop

226 ‧ ‧ rear edge

227‧‧‧Maintenance stop

228‧‧‧ front edge

229‧‧‧ front edge

230‧‧‧Mobile support equipment

232‧‧‧Capture tray

234‧‧‧ front edge

236‧‧‧floor

238‧‧‧ Maintain volume

240‧‧‧ rolling elements

242‧‧‧ front edge

244‧‧‧ top board

246‧‧‧ Space

248‧‧‧ front wall

250‧‧‧Mobile support equipment

252a, 252b, 252c‧‧‧ removable spacers

254‧‧‧ rolling elements

256‧‧‧ front edge

258‧‧‧back edge

260‧‧‧Contact plate

262‧‧‧Contact plate

1 is an overview of one embodiment of a glass forming apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

2 is a perspective view schematically depicting a shaped body supported by an edge block assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a shaped body taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein;

4 is a detailed view of a glass forming apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein, illustrating an edge block assembly including a movable support apparatus;

Figure 5 depicts a bottom plate of the movable support apparatus of Figure 4 in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 6 depicts a top panel of the movable support apparatus of Figure 4 in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 7 schematically depicts the operation of the movable support apparatus of Figure 4 in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 8 schematically depicts the operation of the movable support apparatus of Figure 4 in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 9 depicts another embodiment of a top panel for use with a movable support device in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 10 schematically depicts another movable support device in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

11 is a schematic depiction of another embodiment of a mobile support device in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 12 schematically depicts another embodiment of a mobile support device in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein;

Figure 13 schematically depicts a low friction sliding plate for use with a movable support device in accordance with one or more embodiments illustrated and described herein.

Domestic deposit information (please note according to the order of the depository, date, number)

Foreign deposit information (please note in the order of country, organization, date, number)

Claims (10)

A glass forming apparatus comprising: a forming body comprising a first forming surface and a second forming surface; an end block assembly comprising: an end plate; and a movable supporting device positioned on the end plate, the movable The support apparatus includes: a first plate and a second plate disposed on the end plate, the first plate including a front edge facing the forming body of the glass forming apparatus and a rear edge facing away from the forming body, The second plate includes a front edge facing the forming body and a rear edge facing away from the forming body; and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the first plate and the second plate; and the first plate and the One of the second plates includes a rolling element track extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge of at least one of the first plate and the second plate that receives the ends of the plurality of rolling elements. The glass forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second panel is a top panel comprising a side wall extending between the front edge and the rear edge of the top panel, the sidewall comprising the rolling element track. The glass forming apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a retaining stop positioned in the rolling element track. A glass forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the side wall includes a retaining flange extending below the rolling element track. The glass forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first panel is a bottom panel comprising a retaining lip extending along the rear edge of the bottom panel. The glass forming apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a capture tray positioned at the front edge of the bottom plate, the capture tray configured to receive one of the plurality of rolling elements falling from the front edge of the bottom plate Or more. A movable support device configured to be positioned on an end plate of an end block assembly of a glass forming apparatus, the movable support device comprising: a bottom plate disposed on the end plate, the bottom plate including a surface facing the glass forming device a front edge of the forming body and a rear edge facing away from the forming body; a top plate disposed on the bottom plate, the top plate including a front edge facing the forming body and a rear edge facing away from the forming body; and a plurality of rolling An element positioned between the bottom plate and the top plate; wherein the top plate includes a rolling element track extending between the front edge and the rear edge of the top plate configured to receive an end of the plurality of rolling elements. The movable support apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top panel includes a side wall extending between the front edge and the rear edge of the top panel, the side wall including the rolling element track. The movable support apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a retaining stop positioned in the rolling element track. The movable support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the side wall includes a retaining flange extending below the rolling element track.