Bead removal apparatuses and methods for separating beads from glass sheets with glass engaging units

Abstract

Bead removal apparatuses and methods for separating beads from glass sheets with glass engaging units are disclosed. The bead removal apparatus includes a forming body from which a continuous glass ribbon is drawn in a draw direction and a bead removal station adjacent to and laterally offset from the forming body. The bead removal station includes a heating element configured to heat a desired line of bead separation of a glass sheet to a temperature within a range of about 400DEG C to about 600DEG C, and a crack initiation device configured to initiate a crack in the glass sheet at the desired line of bead separation. The bead removal apparatus further includes a glass engaging unit configured to move the glass sheet from the continuous glass ribbon to the bead removal station.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 324049, filed April 18, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [0002] background technical field [0003] This specification relates generally to glass manufacturing apparatus and methods, and more particularly to the use of glass joint units to separate flanges from glass sheets at desired flange separation lines after the glass sheets have been separated from a continuous glass ribbon Remove devices and methods. Background technique [0004] The continuous glass ribbon can be formed by various methods such as fusion draw, slot draw, float or other similar down draw methods. The surface of the continuous glass ribbon obtained by the fusion drawing process has excellent flatness and smoothness when compared to glass ribbons produced by other methods. Individual sheets of glass cut from a continuous glass ribbon formed by fusion drawin...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While this method can be used for glass sheets with low compressive stresses, these techniques have not proven effective for strengthened glass laminates with higher compressive stresses

Therefore, and for other reasons, deflanging glass sheets in this manner was found to be problematic

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