RU2393123C2 - Movement of glass sheets using hoisting jet nozzle and switching operations - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of switching between operations for moving glass sheets during cyclic moulding of a first and a second glass sheet. The glass sheets are moved through cyclic transportation on a roller conveyor over an assembly of hoisting jet nozzles. Gas can be moved upwards through the nozzle under pressure for upward movement of a glass sheet from the roller conveyor to the bottom surface of the top support lying over the roller conveyor. Stoppers are inserted into those hoisting jet nozzles which do not require supply of gas under pressure in order to move the glass sheets of the first shape upwards. Stoppers can also be removed from closed hoisting jet nozzles which require supply of gas under pressure in order to move second glass sheets upwards.

EFFECT: reduced expenses during glass production and reduced time consumption during cyclic movement of heated glass sheets of the chosen shape.

16 cl, 6 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for switching between sheet glass moving operations carried out during the cyclic molding of the first and second sheet glass of various shapes, the invention also relates to a method and apparatus for moving sheet glass of a selected shape from the roller table to the lower surface of the upper support located above the roller table.

State of the art

One of the ways glass sheet is formed is by heating on a conveyor, followed by holding a heated glass sheet under the upper support, onto which it rises with the help of the elevating jet nozzle assembly to prepare for bending. See, for example, US patents Nos. 4,202,854 (Macmaster et al.) And 4,222,763 (Macmaster), which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The upper support can be a template around which a heated glass sheet is molded, or it can be a flat surface that transfers the heated glass sheet to another template, as described in the patents of Macmaster and Macmaster and others. Usually, for each form of flat glass, its own assembly of lifting glasses is made and installed jet nozzles of the necessary shape to allow the glass sheet to rise to the template or to a flat surface for subsequent movement to another template. Such individual units of lifting jet nozzles necessarily entail production costs, as well as installation time when switching to another operation.

Disclosure of invention

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for carrying out one sheet glass moving operation performed by cyclic forming the first sheet glass of one shape and then switching to another sheet glass moving operation performed by the cyclic forming of second sheet glass of another shape.

In carrying out the aforementioned goal, each sheet glass moving operation is performed cyclically by holding glass sheets on a rolling table above the lifting jet nozzle assembly, which is located below the held glass sheet and contains lifting jet nozzles through which gas under pressure can be supplied upward to allow the glass to move upward a sheet with a roller table on the lower surface of the upper support located above the conveyor. Plugs are inserted into the lifting jet nozzles, which are not needed for supplying gas under pressure, in order to allow the first glass sheet to move upward in a single sheet glass movement operation, which can then be completed after the desired row of glass sheets is cycled. After that, the plugs are removed from all plugged lifting jet nozzles that are required to supply gas under pressure to allow the second glass sheets to move upward, and the plugs are added to all unclosed lifting jet nozzles that are not required to supply gas under pressure to allow the second glass to move up glass sheets.

In the implementation of the above method, plugs are introduced into lifting jet nozzles located outside the boundary of the shape of the glass sheets moved during each operation, plugs can also be inserted into certain lifting jet nozzles located within the perimeter of the shape of the glass sheets moved during at least one operation .

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved method for cyclic movement of heated glass sheets of a selected shape from the roller table to the lower surface of the upper support located above the roller table.

An improved way to achieve the above goal is carried out by holding each heated sheet of glass on the rolling table above the node of the lifting jet nozzles located below the conducted glass sheet and containing the lifting jet nozzles through which gas under pressure can be supplied upward to allow the glass sheet to move from the roller table to the lower surface upper support. In addition, plugs are inserted into the selected lifting jet nozzles, in which for the selected form of the transported sheet glass it is not necessary to supply an upward flow of gas, due to which there is no unnecessary upward flow of gas under pressure.

When implementing this method, the plugs are inserted into the lifting jet nozzles outside the perimeter of the selected shape of the transported glass sheets, the plugs can also be inserted into some of the lifting jet nozzles within the perimeter of the selected shape of the transported glass sheets. This method is also carried out by supplying gas under pressure to the block of lifting jet nozzles of a system of lifting jet nozzles through a plurality of supply lines.

In one embodiment of the method, a system of lifting jet nozzles is used to form a heated glass sheet around a curved forming surface of the upper support, and in another method of the process, a system of lifting jet nozzles is used to transfer the heated glass sheet to a flat transfer surface of the upper support.

In the method, all the plugs are inserted into the holes under the plug, which go in the direction transverse to the nozzle hole of the corresponding lifting jet nozzle.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved device for the cyclic transfer of heated glass sheets of the selected form from the roller table to the lower surface of the upper support located above the roller table.

An improved device to achieve the just stated purpose includes a system of lifting jet nozzles located below the plane of transportation of the conducted glass sheets and containing several blocks of lifting jet nozzles through which gas under pressure can be supplied upward to ensure the transfer of each heated sheet of glass from the roller table to the lower surface upper support. The system of lifting jet nozzles also includes several supply lines through which gas is supplied under pressure to the corresponding blocks of the lifting jet nozzles. The device also includes plugs that close some nozzles, in which for the selected form of the transported heated glass sheets it is not necessary to supply an upward gas flow, so that there is no unnecessary upward gas flow under pressure.

The sheet glass transfer device may have plugs located in the lifting jet nozzles located outside the perimeter of the selected form of portable glass sheets, and may also have plugs placed in some of the lifting jet nozzles located inside the perimeter of the selected shape of the portable glass sheets.

One device design has an upper support having a curved forming surface around which a lifting jet nozzle system forms a glass sheet, and another device design has an upper support having a flat transfer surface onto which a lifting nozzle system transfers a glass sheet.

A device is described in which each lifting jet nozzle includes a plug hole extending in a direction transverse to the nozzle hole through which pressure is supplied by the lifting jet nozzle, and each plug is made as a pin that is inserted through the plug hole to plug the nozzle hole .

The objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments for carrying out the invention, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a sheet glass overload section including a device according to the invention for carrying out the methods of the invention in connection with transferring heated glass sheets from a roller table to an upper support, the upper support shown having a curved shape around which a glass sheet is also formed.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1, of another embodiment of the device, in which the upper support has a flat surface onto which the glass sheet moves in preparation for further processing.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of one nozzle of a block of elevating jet nozzles used to provide upward movement of glass sheets in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of a lifting jet nozzle that includes a plug to prevent upward gas flow from each lifting jet nozzle that is not necessary for the particular shape of the movable glass sheet.

Figure 5 is a top view of the section of the lifting jet nozzles in section along the line 5-5 of figure 1, showing the first glass sheet of the same shape, which moves upwards by means of the operating lifting jet nozzles, schematically shown filled with other nozzles provided with plugs, as shown in FIG. 4 to prevent unnecessary upward flow of gas under pressure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the assembly of the lifting jet nozzles similar to FIG. 5, but showing a second glass sheet of a different shape with a plurality of working lifting jet nozzles and other nozzles provided with plugs, as shown in FIG. 4, to prevent unnecessary upward flow. gas under pressure.

The implementation of the invention

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, two different embodiments of sheet glass overload sections are shown, respectively, which are indicated by 10a and 10b. Each of these transfer sections includes a device 12 according to the invention for moving sheet glass, which is more fully described below when describing the difference between the two sections. The design of the device 12, the method for moving sheet glass carried out by the device, and the method by which operations of glass sheets of various shapes can be switched are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and all this will be described in a comprehensive manner to facilitate understanding of all aspects of the invention.

Each of the transfer sections 10a and 10b includes a roller table 14 having rollers 16 on which heated glass sheets G are guided to a respective transfer section for the transfer operation. The node 18 of the lifting jet nozzles of each transfer section is located below the roller table 14 and includes many lifting jet nozzles 20 for supplying an upward flow of gas to the heated glass sheet G, conducted in the transfer section. Gas is supplied under pressure to the nozzles 20 from a suitable source 22, as will be described more fully below.

Each of the reloading sections 10a and 10b shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a corresponding upper support 24a and 24b held above the roller table 14 and having a lower surface 26a and 26b. The upward gas flow from the corresponding node 18 of the lifting jet nozzles of each transfer section moves the glass sheet G up to the surface of the upper support 26a or 26b. It is possible that the upper supports 24a and 24b can move downward, as depicted by a dashed line, to an adjacent conveyor 14, in order to facilitate movement, and then return upward, preparing for further processing, in particular for moving to the molding templates. At the transfer section 10a, the upper support 24a has a lower surface 26a having a curved shape, so that the upward flow of gas from the lift jet nozzle assembly 18 will also begin to form curved glass sheet, while the flat surface 26b of the transfer section 10b keeps the glass sheet flat, preparing it to molding on the template on which the glass sheet moves. Each of the upper supports 24a and 24b is described as having a bottom surface 26a or 26b provided with openings 28 through which a vacuum is supplied to hold a sheet of glass received from the conveyor. This vacuum can be supplied as a deeper vacuum at first, which provides initial support, and then as a less deep vacuum, which prevents deformation of the heated glass sheet at the holes. In addition, it is possible to supply pressurized gas to these openings later in order to facilitate movement from the corresponding upper support to another template for molding or delivery.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, plugs 30 are inserted in some lifting jet nozzles 20 into which gas does not need to be pressurized to allow upward movement of the glass sheet during each sheet glass movement operation. These plugs 30, as more fully described below, prevent the upward flow of gas from a closed nozzle and thereby save gas energy under pressure, which would otherwise be supplied to this nozzle. This design allows you to use the site 18 of the lifting jet nozzles with glass sheets of various shapes, however, providing an efficient operation of moving from the conveyor to the upper support.

5 and 6, a nozzle assembly 18 is shown which is used with glass sheets G and G ′ of two different shapes. Each of these types schematically shows nozzles that are functioning and are not covered by plugs, in a shaded form, and nozzles that are closed by plugs, unpainted. As shown in FIG. 5, the glass sheet G has a slightly smaller shape than the glass sheet G ′ shown in FIG. 6, and it has all of the lifting jet nozzles 20 within its perimeter not plugged, and all of the lifting jet nozzles 20 outside its perimeter is closed to provide the most efficient moving operation. In addition, in the case of the glass sheet G ′ shown in FIG. 6, all of the lift jet nozzles 20 outside its perimeter are closed, as are a number of lift jet nozzles 20 within its perimeter, but other lift jet nozzles 20 within its perimeter are valid to provide a lift jet action. Typically, all lifting jet nozzles 20 outside the perimeter of a particular shape of the movable glass sheet will be plugged, and most or all of the nozzles within the perimeter of the glass sheet will not be closed, that is, will be operational. Calculations and tests were performed to determine which lifting jet nozzles 20 within the perimeter of the sheet glass may not work and, thus, will be closed by plugs.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lift jet nozzle assembly 18 includes rows 32 of lift jet nozzles 20, in particular, five rows 32 of lift jet nozzles are shown, and also includes a plurality of supply lines 34 through which gas under pressure is supplied respectively from the source 22 (Fig.1 and 2) to different blocks of nozzles for a glass sheet.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plugs 30 are removed (FIG. 3) to remove plugs from the selected lifting jet nozzles 20, and inserted into the lifting jet nozzles 20 (FIG. 4) to plug them, which prevents upward gas flow . In particular, each lifting jet nozzle 20 includes an opening for a plug 36, which extends in a direction transverse to the nozzle opening 38 through which pressure gas flows upward. Each lifting jet nozzle 20 has a lower threaded end 40, which is screwed into the threaded hole in the corresponding nozzle block supply line 42. These supply lines 42 of each block 32 supply pressurized gas from the previously described lines 34 to allow the glass sheet to rise upward.

Returning again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the plug 30 is moved from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4 into the hole for the plug 36 to prevent gas from flowing through the lift jet nozzle 20, and is removed from the hole for the plug, as shown in figure 3, to allow the upward flow of gas for operation of the lifting jet nozzle. As shown, each plug 30 has an elongated shape with a circular cross section and has a spring-loaded ball retainer 44 at its insertion end and a grip ring 46 at the other end to facilitate removal. Although this plug design is preferred due to its simplicity and ease of insertion and removal, other plug designs, such as valve elements that shut off and turn on the gas flow, can also be used.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, this does not mean that these embodiments describe and illustrate all possible forms of the invention. On the contrary, the wording used in the detailed description is rather descriptive than restrictive, and it should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the essence and scope of the invention, which are defined in the following claims.

Claims (16)

1. A method of performing one operation of moving a glass sheet carried out during cyclic molding of the first glass sheets of one shape, and then switching to another operation of moving sheet glass carried out during the cyclic molding of second glass sheets of another shape, comprising:
each sheet glass moving operation carried out by cyclically transporting the glass sheets on a rolling table above the lifting jet nozzle assembly located below the transported glass sheet and containing the lifting jet nozzles through which gas can be supplied under pressure to allow the glass sheet to move upward from the rolling table on the lower surface of the upper support located above the roller table;
insertion of plugs into the lifting jet nozzles into which it is not necessary to supply gas under pressure in order to provide the operation of moving up the glass sheet of the first form during the first operation of moving sheet glass, which can then be completed after cyclic movement of the required number of glass sheets; and
subsequent removal of all plugs from the closed lifting jet nozzles that are required for supplying gas under pressure to allow the second glass sheets to move upward; and adding plugs to the unclosed lifting jet nozzles that are not needed for supplying gas under pressure to allow the second glass plates to move upward sheets. 2. The method of moving glass sheets according to claim 1, in which the plugs are fed into a lifting jet nozzle located outside the perimeter of the glass sheets moved during each operation. 3. The method of moving glass sheets according to claim 2, in which the plugs are additionally inserted into some of the lifting jet nozzles located inside the perimeter of the shape of the glass sheets that are moved in at least one operation. 4. The method of cyclic movement of heated glass sheets of the selected form from the roller table to the lower surface of the upper support located above the roller table, including:
transporting each heated glass sheet on a rolling table above a node of the lifting jet nozzles located below the transported glass sheet and containing lifting jet nozzles through which pressure gas can be supplied upward to allow the glass sheet to move from the roller table to the lower surface of the upper support; and
supplying plugs to the selected lifting jet nozzles, in which an upward gas flow is not necessary for the selected form of movable glass sheets, whereby there is no unnecessary upward gas flow under pressure. 5. The method of moving glass sheets according to claim 4, in which corks provide lifting jet nozzles outside the perimeter of the selected shape of the movable glass sheets. 6. The method for moving glass sheets according to claim 5, wherein the plugs additionally provide some of the lifting jet nozzles located inside the perimeter of the selected shape of the movable glass sheets. 7. The method of moving glass sheets according to claim 4, in which gas under pressure is supplied to the rows of nozzles of the node of the lifting jet nozzles through several supply lines. 8. The method of moving glass sheets according to claim 4, in which the node lifting jet nozzles forms a glass sheet around a curved forming surface of the upper support. 9. The method of moving glass sheets according to claim 4, in which the node lifting jet nozzles moves the glass sheet on a flat surface to move the upper support. 10. The method of moving glass sheets according to claim 4, in which the corks provide all the holes for the cork, which continue in the direction transverse to the hole of the corresponding lifting jet nozzle. 11. A device for the cyclic movement of heated glass sheets of the selected shape from the roller table to the lower surface of the upper support located above the roller table, including:
a node for lifting jet nozzles located below the plane of transportation of the transported glass sheet and containing a plurality of groups of lifting jet nozzles through which gas can be supplied under pressure to ensure that each heated glass sheet moves from the roller table to the lower surface of the upper support; and a plurality of supply lines through which gas under pressure is supplied respectively to the groups of lifting jet nozzles; and
plugs that close some nozzles in which for the selected form of the movable glass sheet it is not necessary to supply a gas stream upwards, whereby there is no unnecessary upward gas stream under pressure. 12. The device for moving glass sheets according to claim 11, in which the plugs are placed in the lifting jet nozzles located outside the perimeter of the selected shape of the movable glass sheets. 13. The device for moving glass sheets according to claim 11, in which the plugs are also placed in some of the lifting jet nozzles located inside the perimeter of the selected shape of the movable glass sheets. 14. The device for moving glass sheets according to claim 11, in which the upper support includes a nonlinear forming surface around which the node of the lifting jet nozzles forms a glass sheet. 15. The device for moving glass sheets according to claim 11, in which the upper support includes a flat movement surface onto which the node of the lifting jet nozzles moves the glass sheet. 16. The device for moving glass sheets according to claim 11, in which each lifting jet nozzle includes a plug hole, which extends in a direction transverse to the nozzle hole, through which gas under pressure is supplied to the lifting jet nozzle, and each plug is made in the form of a pin that is inserted through the hole under the plug to close the nozzle hole.

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