The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 23, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 07, 1995
James P Schnabel, Jr, Maumee, OH (US);
Paul D Ducat, Perrysburg, OH (US);
Robert L Boyles, Jr, Toledo, OH (US);
Glasstech, Inc., Perrysburg, OH (US);
Abstract
A system (20) and method for forming a glass sheet includes a locating assembly (28) for locating at least one glass sheet below a downwardly facing surface (58) of a topside support device (26) that receives the heated glass sheet from a conveyor (24,24') in preparation for transfer thereof to an associated mold (33) on a mold shuttle (30). The locating assembly (28) includes a support (82) that is mounted outside of the system housing (22) at factory ambient temperature and has a horizontal arm (84) extending therefrom through the housing into its heated chamber (37) with first and second locators (92) and (94) for locating the suspended glass sheet as well as having a third locator that cooperates with the first and second locators to provide the glass sheet location. At least one of the first and second locators (92) and (94) is rotatively driven. In one embodiment designed to form a pair of glass sheets during each forming cycle, a pair of the horizontal arms (84) are used and a pair of the third locators (96) are provided mounted on the downwardly facing surface of the topside support device (26). In another embodiment for processing a single glass sheet during each cycle, the third locator (96) is mounted on another horizontal arm (84a) on which a fourth locator (97) is also mounted. Both air hearth and roll conveyors (24,24') can be utilized to transfer the glass sheet to the topside support device (26) for the location.