Method and apparatus for maintaining the cleanliness of glass ribbons during the glass manufacturing process.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-14
Smart Images
Figure 2026527498000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 515,935, filed Jul. 27, 2023, the content of which is relied upon herein and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0002] This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for maintaining the cleanliness of a glass ribbon during a glass manufacturing process. More specifically, this disclosure relates to methods, apparatus, and air knives for cutting glass during a glass manufacturing process.
Background Art
[0003] It is known that a glass sheet can be separated, for example, by a glass separating device, from a continuously moving glass ribbon. The glass separating device includes a scoring device that traverses along the glass separating device and makes a cut in the glass ribbon during a downward traverse. Upon completion of making the cut, a robot bends the glass ribbon to complete the glass ribbon separation process. During the separation process, glass particles can be generated and may adhere to the surface of the glass ribbon. Conventionally, a vacuum has been used to suction glass particles during the separation process. Eventually, such particles can become permanently bonded to the glass surface.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure presents a method for cutting a glass article, such as a glass sheet or glass ribbon. The method includes making an incision in the surface of the glass article and separating the glass article along the incision. The method may further include discharging compressed air from an air knife in a path substantially parallel to a first surface of the glass article, the air knife including a bumper, an outlet gap, and a body, the body including a distal edge and a flat surface, the flat surface being substantially perpendicular to the glass ribbon, the bumper being positioned adjacent to and spaced away from the incised first surface of the glass article on the distal edge of the body, the outlet gap being positioned spaced away from the bumper on the flat surface and the outlet gap being operable to discharging air perpendicular to the flat surface.
[0005] In some embodiments, the discharged compressed air flows along a flat surface in a direction away from the glass article. In some embodiments, the compressed air passes through at least one filter before being discharged, and at least one filter is operable to remove particles from the compressed air. In some embodiments, the discharged compressed air creates a low-pressure region adjacent to the separated glass article, causing a flow of glass particles away from the separated glass article. In some embodiments, the air knife may discharge compressed air for about 1.5 to about 2 seconds. Discharging may be started before separation and ended after separation is complete.
[0006] In some embodiments, the air knife may discharge compressed air at a flow rate of about 2500 liters / minute (l / min) to about 2700 l / minute. The air knife may be configured to discharge compressed air at a speed of about 40 meters / second to about 50 meters / second. The air knife may be operable to receive compressed air at a pressure of at least about 0.3 MPa. In some embodiments, the bumper may be positioned about 20 millimeters to about 25 millimeters from the surface of the glass article along the entire long axis of the bumper during separation.
[0007] The method may further include stretching a glass ribbon from a molded body supplied with molten glass. In embodiments, an air knife may be coupled to a glass separator positioned below the molded body, the glass separator moving in the same direction and at the same speed as the glass ribbon during the separation of the glass ribbon. The method may further include moving the air knife along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the glass ribbon.
[0008] Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure presents an air knife having a body comprising a distal edge, a flat surface, and a plenum chamber, wherein the plenum chamber is operable to receive compressed air and direct the received compressed air to an outlet gap located on the flat surface of the body, the outlet gap extending along the longitudinal axis of the flat bottom and spaced apart from the distal edge, the distal edge comprising at least one bumper spaced apart from the outlet gap, the bumper extending along the longitudinal axis, and the outlet gap operable to discharge compressed air perpendicular to the flat surface.
[0009] In some embodiments, the air knife may include a filter located upstream of the outlet gap, and the filter may be operable to remove particles from the compressed air. In some embodiments, at least one bumper may include a first bumper positioned adjacent to a flat surface of the distal edge of the body and a second bumper positioned adjacent to the upper part of the distal edge of the body. In some embodiments, the air knife may further include a valve operable to allow the flow of compressed air through the outlet gap in the first configuration and to prevent the flow of compressed air through the outlet gap in the second configuration. In some embodiments, the air knife may be configured to discharge compressed air at a flow rate of about 2500 l / min to about 2700 l / min. The air knife may be configured to discharge compressed air at a speed of about 40 m / s to about 50 m / s. The air knife may be operable to receive compressed air at a minimum pressure of about 0.3 MPa.
[0010] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure presents an apparatus for manufacturing a glass ribbon, which is stretched, notched, and separated. The apparatus includes an air knife positioned adjacent to a notched portion of the glass ribbon, which is operable to cause glass particles to flow away from the glass ribbon by discharging compressed air in a path parallel to the surface of the glass ribbon, which comprises a bumper, an outlet gap, and a body having a distal edge and a flat surface, the bumper positioned adjacent to and spaced away from the notched portion of the glass ribbon on the distal edge of the body, the outlet gap positioned spaced away from the bumper on the flat surface and operable to discharging compressed air substantially perpendicular to the flat surface, which is substantially perpendicular to the glass ribbon.
[0011] In some embodiments, an air knife may be configured to discharge compressed air when the separator is breaking the glass ribbon. For example, the air knife may be operable to discharge compressed air for about 1.5 to about 2 seconds. In some embodiments, a bumper may be positioned between the glass ribbon, the body, and the outlet gap. In some embodiments, the discharged compressed air creates a low-pressure region adjacent to the separated glass ribbon, causing the discharged compressed air to flow along a flat surface away from the glass ribbon. The discharged compressed air may move the flow of glass particles generated by breaking the glass away from the glass ribbon. In some embodiments, the bumper may be spaced away from the separated glass ribbon at a distance of about 20 to about 25 millimeters along the entire longitudinal axis (e.g., length) of the bumper. In some embodiments, the outlet gap may be spaced away from the surface of the glass ribbon at a distance of about 30 to about 35 millimeters along the entire longitudinal axis (e.g., length) of the outlet gap. In some embodiments, the bumper may include a high-temperature heat-resistant silicone material.
[0012] In the embodiment, the air knife may be coupled to a glass separator configured to move in the same direction and at the same speed as the glass ribbon. The air knife may be configured to move along an axis perpendicular to the main surface of the glass ribbon.
[0013] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below. However, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and various modifications of this disclosure are possible without departing from the basic principles set forth herein.
[0014] Various embodiments are disclosed only as examples, with reference to the following attached schematic diagrams in which the corresponding reference symbols indicate the corresponding parts. Structural elements that are identical or functionally similar are identified in the same way as the drawing numbers on the drawings of different drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0015] [Figure 1] This is a side view of an exemplary air knife suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of elements of an exemplary device suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary air knife suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a top perspective view of an exemplary air knife suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary air knife suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is a side-bottom perspective view of an exemplary air knife suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] This is a side perspective view of an exemplary glass ribbon separator device suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8]This is an enlarged side view of an exemplary glass ribbon separator device suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0016] This disclosure is not limited to the specific methodologies, materials, and modifications described herein, and these may change. The terminology used herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the claims. Furthermore, the claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
[0017] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Any method, device, or material similar to or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the examples of embodiments.
[0018] As used herein, the term “substantially” is synonymous with terms such as “almost,” “very close,” “about,” “approximately,” “roughly,” “approximately,” “similar to,” “close to,” “essentially,” “about,” and “near,” and such terms may be used interchangeably as found herein and in the claims. The term “proximity” is synonymous with terms such as “near,” “close,” “adjacent,” “neighboring,” “right next to,” and “adjacent,” and such terms may be used interchangeably as found herein and in the claims. The term “approximately” is intended to mean a value within 10 percent of a given value.
[0019] In this application, the use of “or” relates to “non-exclusive” constructions unless otherwise specified. For example, when it is stated that “item x is A or B,” it is understood that this can mean one of the following: (1) item x is either A or B, or (2) item x is both A and B. Alternatively, the word “or” is not used to define “exclusive OR” constructions. For example, the “exclusive OR” construction of the sentence “item x is A or B” requires that x can be either A or B. Furthermore, as used herein, “and / or” is intended to mean a grammatical link used to indicate that one or more of the listed elements or conditions are included or may occur. For example, a device comprising a first element, a second element, and / or a third element is intended to be interpreted as any one of the following structural configurations: a device comprising a first element, a device comprising a second element, a device comprising a third element, a device comprising a first and a second element, a device comprising a first and a third element, a device comprising a first element, a second element, and a third element, or a device comprising a second and a third element.
[0020] As used herein, the phrases "comprises at least one of" and "comprising at least one of" in combination with a system or element are intended to mean that the system or element includes one or more of the elements listed after this phrase. For example, a device comprising at least one of a first element, a second element, and a third element is intended to be interpreted as any one of the following structural configurations: a device comprising the first element, a device comprising the second element, a device comprising the third element, a device comprising the first and second elements, a device comprising the first and third elements, a device comprising the first, second, and third elements, or a device comprising the second and third elements. A similar interpretation is intended when the phrase "used with at least one of" is used herein.
[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air knife disposed adjacent to a score line region of a glass article, such as a glass ribbon, to redirect glass particles leaving the glass article and reduce contamination of the surface(s) of the glass article during a glass manufacturing process when the glass article is separated along a score line in a direction away from the glass article by using a passive air flow from the air knife.
[0022] The air knife may be supplied with ultra-clean filtered compressed air to generate an air flow that is discharged at high speed at the outlet of the air knife. Embodiments provide that the discharged air flows along the curved surface of the air knife such that it is directed in a direction away from the glass article. Due to the high speed of the air flow at the outlet of the air knife, a low pressure region is created near the glass article where the glass particles are redirected away from the glass article.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a side view of an exemplary air knife 102 suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The air knife 102 includes a body 106, a distal edge 108, a flat surface 110, a plenum chamber 112, an exit gap 114, and bumpers 116, 118. The plenum chamber 112 extends along the longitudinal axis L (e.g., the length shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) of the body 106 of the air knife 102. As shown in FIG. 5, the plenum chamber 112 and the exit gap 114 extend from an inlet 302 (also shown in FIG. 3) along the entire length of the longitudinal axis L of the air knife 102. The plenum chamber 112 is operable to receive compressed air, for example, from an air tank and direct the compressed air to the exit gap 114.
[0024] Embodiments of the air knife 102 are operably connected to a glass separator 700, shown in Figures 7 and 8. The glass separator 700 includes the air knife 102, a cutting assembly 702, and a pivot 704. During the glass manufacturing process, a furnace may be used to heat the preceding material to form molten glass. The molten glass is then supplied to the molded body 701 at a continuous and constant rate. The glass ribbon 104 can be stretched downward from the molded body 701 toward the glass separator 700 by a series of rollers 703 (shown in Figures 7 and 8). The glass separator 700 is operable to move in the same direction (e.g., downward) as the glass ribbon 104 and at the same speed as the glass ribbon 104. Thus, the portion of the glass ribbon 104 adjacent to the air knife 102, the cutting assembly 702, and the pivot 704 does not change as both the glass ribbon 104 and the glass separator system 700 move together at the same speed and in the same direction during the manufacturing process. After separating the glass sheet from the glass ribbon, the glass separator 700 is further operable to move upward to its home position. Thus, the glass separator 700 starts at the home position, moves downward at the same speed as the glass ribbon, performs the separation operation (with the help of, for example, the separator device 718), and then moves upward to the home position to update the cycle, with each cycle producing a predetermined length of glass sheet from the glass ribbon.
[0025] The cutting assembly 702 includes a reciprocating cutting device 706 and a cutting tool 708 (e.g., a cutting wheel, a carbide cutting scribe, etc.) coupled to the cutting device 706 and operable to cut into the surface of the glass ribbon 104. The cutting assembly 702 is positioned perpendicularly below and spaced apart from the flat surface 110 of the air knife 102. The cutting device 706 is operable such that the cutting tool 708 can come into contact with and move away from the glass ribbon 104, as illustrated by arrow 710, by moving the cutting tool 708 toward and away from the glass ribbon 104 parallel to the flat surface 110. During the cutting of the glass ribbon 104, the cutting device 706 is operable to move the cutting tool 708 toward the glass ribbon 104 (1) so that the cutting tool 708 can make an incision in the surface of the glass ribbon 104, and (2) along the width of the glass ribbon 104 which is perpendicular to the long axis of the glass ribbon 104 and parallel to the flat surface 110, thereby making an incision in the surface of the glass ribbon 104 along the width of the glass ribbon 104 which is perpendicular to the long axis of the glass ribbon 104. Once the cutting of the glass ribbon 104 is complete, the cutting device 706 is operable to move the cutting tool 708 toward the glass ribbon 104 toward the direction indicated by the arrow 710.
[0026] The pivot point 704 is spaced apart from the front portion 606 of the air knife 102 (shown in Figure 6), and positioned so that the glass ribbon 104 is between the air knife 102 and the pivot point 704. The pivot point 704 includes a movable bumper 712 that does not melt when in contact with the glass ribbon 104. For example, the bumper 712 may include a silicone material. The pivot point 704 is operably connected to a carriage that can move the pivot point 704 toward and away from the glass ribbon 104 along arrow 716. The carriage 714 is operable to maintain the position of the pivot point 704 relative to the glass ribbon 104 and the air knife 102 so that the pivot point 704 does not move toward these elements. During the glass separation process of the glass ribbon 104, the pivot point 704 with the bumper 712 is operable to maintain their position when the glass ribbon 104 is moved toward the pivot point 704 and pressed against the bumper 712 by a separation device 718 (e.g., a robot) until the glass ribbon 104 is separated along the cut surface of the glass ribbon 104. The pivot point 704 is also operable to maintain the position of the glass ribbon 104 relative to the cutting tool 708 during the cutting of the surface of the glass ribbon 104. In this regard, the bumper 712 of the pivot point 704 is positioned on the opposite side of the glass ribbon 104 from the cutting tool 708 so that the cutting tool 708 applies pressure to the glass ribbon 104 and the pivot point 704.
[0027] The air knife 102 includes an exit gap 114 defined by a first surface 120 and a spaced-apart second surface 122 of the body 106. The first surface 120 is defined by a front portion 606 (also shown in Figure 6). In embodiments, the front portion 606 may have a thickness of at least 0.05 millimeters. The width of the front portion 606 is the distance between the exit gap surface 608 and its distal edge 610 (also shown in Figure 6). The portions of the first surface 120 and the second surface 122 that connect the front portion 606 and the bottom portion of the flat surface 110, respectively, are curved. The exit gap 114 is positioned along the flat surface 110 of the body 106. The exit gap 114 extends along the longitudinal axis L of the body 106. As shown in Figure 1, the distal edge 108 is not perpendicular to the flat surface 110, but is angled to the flat surface 110 such that the angle between the distal edge 108 and the flat surface 110 is approximately 45 degrees to approximately 90 degrees. In another embodiment, the angle between the distal edge 108 and the flat surface 110 may be 90 degrees. The exit gap 114 may be equidistant from the distal edge 108 along the entire longitudinal axis L of the body 106. The flat surface 110 may extend between the exit gap 114 and the proximal edge 124 along the entire length of the body 106. Between the exit gap 114 and the distal edge 108 of the body 106 is the flat surface 111. The flat surface 111 extends along the entire length of the body 106 between the distal edge 108 and the exit gap 114. The outlet gap 114 is operable to discharge compressed air from the plenum chamber 112 substantially perpendicular to the flat surface 110. Alternatively, embodiments may include the outlet gap 114 being operable to discharge compressed air at an angle of about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees relative to the flat surface 110.
[0028] Bumpers 116, 118 may be positioned on the distal edge 108 of the main body 106. For example, bumper 116 may be positioned at the interface between the distal edge 108 and the flat surface 110. Bumper 118 may be positioned on the distal edge 108 adjacent to the upper surface 126 of the main body 106. Embodiments of bumpers 116, 118 provide that they can be fixedly or detachably attached to the main body 106. Embodiments provide that bumpers 116, 118 extend along the distal edge 108 of the main body 106 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. Bumpers 116, 118 may include a plurality of bumpers spaced apart along the distal edge 108. Figure 6 shows one embodiment of the bumper 118, which includes two bumpers positioned at the first end 602 and the second end 604 of the distal edge 108 of the body 106. Embodiments of the bumpers 116, 118 may be made of a high-temperature resistant silicone material that operates so as not to melt below approximately 400 degrees Celsius. In another embodiment, the bumpers 116, 118 may be made of a high-temperature resistant silicone material that does not melt below a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius. Embodiments provide that the bumpers 116, 118 are operable so as not to melt when in contact with or near the glass ribbon 104. When in contact with the glass ribbon 104, the bumpers 116, 118 provide a physical barrier between the body 106 and the glass ribbon 104 to prevent the glass ribbon 104 from twisting, sticking, or folding. The bumpers 116 and 118 are operable so as not to adhere to the glass ribbon 104 when they come into contact with the glass ribbon 104, and so as not to melt when exposed to heat from the glass ribbon 104.
[0029] Referring to Figure 4, a top perspective view of the air knife 102 is shown. As shown in Figure 4, the bumper 118 may be positioned on the track 402. In embodiments, the bumper 118 may be slidably engaged with the track 402 so that the bumper 118 can slide within the track 402 along the longitudinal axis L. For example, the bumper 118 may be moved along the track 402 to accommodate the width of the glass ribbon 104. In other words, the bumper 118 may be positioned within the track 402 so that it is adjacent to the glass ribbon 104. The bumpers 116, 118 are operable to prevent the glass ribbon 104 from contacting the body 102. Embodiments provide that while the glass ribbon 104 is isolated, the bumper 116 may be positioned along the entire length of the bumper 116, for example, parallel to the longitudinal axis L, about 20 mm to about 25 mm from the surface of the glass ribbon 104.
[0030] The air knife 102 is operable to rapidly discharge compressed air through an outlet gap 114 to separate particles from the glass ribbon 104 (as illustrated by arrow 130 in Figure 1). In embodiments, the compressed air may pass through one or more filters so that the compressed air has a low amount of particulate matter in it. As illustrated in Figure 2, embodiments provide that the air knife 102 may be fluidically connected to an air tank 202 and operable to receive compressed air from the air tank 202, which is fluidly connected to a flow valve 204, a filter 206, a high-capacity regulator 208, a high-capacity solenoid valve 210, a second filter 212, a second flow valve 214, a high-capacity flow switch 216, a pressure switch 218, and a third filter 220. The air tank 202 holds compressed air and allows it to flow through a flow valve 204, which is operable to allow the flow of compressed air in one configuration and to prevent the flow in a second configuration. Filters 206, 212, and 220 are operable to remove particles from the compressed air passing through them. A high-capacity regulator 508 is operable to reduce the pressure of the compressed air so that the compressed air is less than approximately 0.3 MPa. A high-capacity solenoid valve 210 is operable to selectively allow and prevent the flow of compressed air through it. A flow valve 214 is operable to receive compressed air from the filter 212 and is operable to allow the flow of compressed air in one configuration and to prevent the flow of compressed air in a second configuration. A high-capacity flow switch 216 is operable to receive the flow of compressed air from the flow valve 214 and is operable to change the flow rate of compressed air passing through it. The pressure switch 218 receives the flow of compressed air from the high-capacity flow switch 216 and is operable to regulate the pressure of the compressed air flowing to the third filter 220 and the air knife 102. The embodiment provides that the air knife 102 is operable to receive compressed air from the air tank 202 at a pressure of at least 0.3 MPa.
[0031] Embodiments of the air knife 102 can provide a uniform passive flow along the width of the glass ribbon 104 by allowing compressed air discharged from the outlet gap 114 to flow along the curved portion of the outlet gap 114 connected to the flat surface 110 (as illustrated by arrow 128 in Figure 1), so that air flows along the flat surface 110. Passive flow means an airflow that responds to the discharged air but is in a different direction from the direction of the discharged air. Embodiments of the air knife 102 can operate to discharge compressed air adjacent to the glass ribbon 104 while maintaining the stability of the glass ribbon 104, since the air knife 102 does not directly draw air from the glass ribbon 104. During the manufacturing process of the glass ribbon 104, the glass ribbon 104 is moving at a constant velocity in the vertical downward direction, as shown in Figure 7. In order for the glass ribbon 104 to have a uniform thickness without imperfections (e.g., crystalline contamination on the glass), it should not be allowed to bend, flutter, twist, fold, or bend the glass ribbon 104. The stability of the glass ribbon 104 refers to the glass ribbon 104 moving continuously and at a constant speed in a vertically downward direction without bending, fluttering, twisting, folding, or bending during the manufacturing process. The embodiment of the air knife 102 also does not discharge compressed air directly toward the glass ribbon 104. In other words, the compressed air discharged from the air knife 102 does not cause (1) the glass ribbon 104 to move toward the air knife 102, (2) the glass ribbon 104 to move toward the air knife 102, or (3) the glass ribbon 104 to fold, bend, or twist.
[0032] Embodiments provide that the air knife 102 can be positioned at a constant distance from the surface of the glass ribbon 104 throughout the entire manufacturing and / or separation process of the glass ribbon 104. Embodiments also provide that the air knife 102 can be positioned movable adjacent to the glass ribbon 104 so that the distance between the air knife 102 and the glass ribbon 104 can be adjusted or changed manually by the user or automatically in response to a step in the manufacturing process. For example, embodiments provide that the air knife 102 can be moved relative to the glass ribbon 104 so that the distance between the air knife 102 and the glass ribbon 104 can be increased or decreased when the glass ribbon 104 is separated. In embodiments, the air knife 102 can be moved away from the glass ribbon 104 when not venting air to reduce the possibility of the glass ribbon 104 coming into contact with the air knife 102 (e.g., during the separation process). In other embodiments, the position of the air knife 102 relative to the glass ribbon 104 can be fixed throughout the entire glass manufacturing process.
[0033] Refer to Figure 3, which illustrates a bottom perspective view of the air knife 102 and the glass ribbon 104. In practice, the air knife 102 is positioned spaced away from the glass ribbon such that the longitudinal axis L of the air knife 102 is parallel to the surface of the glass ribbon 104 in the width direction of the glass ribbon 104 (shown in Figure 3 along line W). The air knife 102 may be spaced away from the surface of the glass ribbon 104 such that when the glass ribbon 104 is separated, the bumper 116 is positioned about 20 to 25 millimeters from the surface of the glass ribbon 104. The cutting device 706 (shown in Figures 7 and 8) may be configured to move the cutting tool 708 toward the glass ribbon 104 in the direction indicated by arrow 710 until the cutting tool 708 makes contact with the glass ribbon 104 and sufficient pressure is applied to the glass ribbon 104 to make a cut in its surface. Next, the cutting device 706 moves through the width W of the glass ribbon 104 and, via the cutting tool 708, cuts the surface of the glass ribbon 104 from the first edge 304 to the second edge 306. Then, the cutting device 702 moves away from the glass ribbon 104 as indicated by the arrow 710. The separator device 718 moves the portion of the glass ribbon 104 positioned vertically below the pivot point 704 horizontally toward the pivot point 704. The glass ribbon 104 is then separated by the separator device 718 into the first section 308 and the second section 310 along the cut from the first edge 304 to the second edge 306. Separating the glass ribbon 104 allows the glass particles to be released into the surrounding air. In response to the movement of the separator device 718 causing separation, or simultaneously with the completion of cutting the glass ribbon 104, compressed air is allowed to flow from the air tank 202 to the plenum chamber 112 through the inlet 302 by opening the flow valves 204 and 214. The compressed air is then discharged or released through the outlet gap 114. In embodiments, the air knife 102 may discharge compressed air for about 1.5 to about 2 seconds.For example, in the embodiment, the air knife 102 may begin discharging compressed air when the separator device 718 begins moving toward the glass ribbon 104, and then stop discharging the compressed air when the separator 718 reaches a predetermined position relative to the pivot point 704 from which the glass ribbon 104 is expected to be separated. The discharged compressed air may be discharged at approximately 90 degrees to the flat surface 110 and parallel to the surface of the glass ribbon 104. Alternatively, the embodiment may include discharging the compressed air at an angle of about 45 to about 90 degrees to the flat surface 110 in the direction away from the glass ribbon 104. The discharged compressed air flows along the flat surface 110 away from the glass ribbon 104, separating the surrounding air and particles from the glass ribbon 104 along the flat surface 110, as illustrated by arrow 312. The discharged compressed air creates a low-pressure region adjacent to the glass ribbon 104, causing a flow of glass particles in the direction away from the separated glass ribbon 104. The discharged compressed air separates the surrounding air and particles from the glass ribbon 104, as illustrated by arrow 314.
[0034] The embodiment provides that the air knife 102 may be capable of discharging compressed air at a flow rate of approximately 2500 l / min to approximately 2700 l / min. The air knife 102 may also be capable of discharging compressed air at a speed of approximately 40 m / s to approximately 50 m / s.
[0035] In embodiments, the air knife 102 can be integrated into existing glass ribbon manufacturing equipment and positioned adjacent to the glass ribbon 104 to redirect air particles away from the glass ribbon by the Bernoulli effect. Embodiments of the air knife 102 do not directly discharge air toward the glass ribbon 104, nor do they draw air in at one or more points. Discharging air toward the glass ribbon 104, or drawing air in from the direction of the glass ribbon 104, can cause imperfections in the glass ribbon 104, such as stress and associated shape changes, potentially bending, fluttering, or twisting the glass ribbon 104. Imperfections in the glass ribbon 104 are typically undesirable for commercial products. Rather, embodiments of the present disclosure provide that air and particles are uniformly directed along the width of the glass ribbon in a direction away from the glass ribbon.
[0036] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide the use of passive airflow to redirect glass particles away from the glass ribbon after separation of the glass ribbon in order to reduce surface contamination of the glass ribbon. Embodiments provide (1) a passive airflow away from the glass ribbon to minimize the impact on the stability of the glass ribbon during manufacturing, (2) an air knife with higher efficiency than conventional vacuum systems, (3) the ability to direct the airflow to redirect glass particles in a specific direction, in contrast to conventional vacuum systems that draw air from all directions to a single position, (4) the ability to introduce a uniform supply of ultra-clean, high-speed air to reduce contamination on the glass ribbon during manufacturing, and (5) a compressed air supply for the air knife that is low cost and relatively readily available.
[0037] While this disclosure has been described in detail with particular reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be implemented within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are considered illustrative and not limiting in all respects. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and all changes within the meaning and scope of equivalents are intended to be encompassed therein.
Claims
1. A method for cutting glass articles, wherein the method is To generate the cut lines, cuts are made on the surface of the glass article, Separating the glass article along the aforementioned cut line, A method comprising discharging compressed air from an air knife in a path substantially parallel to the surface of the glass article, wherein the air knife comprises a body including a distal edge and a flat surface substantially perpendicular to the glass article, a bumper positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the notched surface of the glass article and on the distal edge, and an outlet gap positioned spaced apart from the bumper and on the flat surface, and operable to discharge the compressed air perpendicular to the flat surface.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the discharged compressed air flows in a path along the flat surface in a direction away from the glass article.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressed air passes through at least one filter before being discharged, and the at least one filter is operable to remove particles from the compressed air.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the discharged compressed air generates a low-pressure region adjacent to the separated glass article, causing a flow of glass particles away from the separated glass article.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air knife discharges the compressed air for 1.5 to 2 seconds.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the discharge is initiated before the separation and terminated after the completion of the separation.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air knife discharges the compressed air at a flow rate of approximately 2,500 l / min to approximately 2,700 l / min and a speed of approximately 40 m / s to approximately 50 m / s.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the air knife receives the compressed air at a pressure of at least about 0.3 MPa.
9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bumper is positioned along the entire long axis of the bumper at a distance of about 20 to 25 millimeters from the surface of the glass article during the separation.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the glass article includes a glass ribbon, and the method further comprises stretching the glass ribbon from a molded body supplied with molten glass.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the air knife is coupled to a glass separation device positioned below the molded body, and the glass separation device moves in the same direction and at the same speed as the glass ribbon during the separation of the glass ribbon.
12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising moving the air knife along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the glass ribbon.
13. It's an air knife, An air knife comprising a body having a distal edge, a flat surface, and a plenum chamber, wherein the plenum chamber is operable to receive compressed air and direct the received compressed air toward an outlet gap located on the flat surface of the body, the outlet gap extending along the longitudinal axis of the flat bottom and spaced apart from the distal edge, the distal edge comprising at least one bumper spaced apart from the outlet gap, the bumper extending along the longitudinal axis, and the outlet gap operable to discharge the compressed air perpendicular to the flat surface.
14. The air knife according to claim 12, wherein the air knife comprises a filter located upstream of the outlet gap, and the filter is operable to remove particles from the compressed air.
15. The air knife according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the at least one bumper comprises a first bumper positioned adjacent to the flat surface and a second bumper positioned adjacent to the upper part of the distal edge.
16. The air knife according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising a valve that, in a first configuration, is operable to allow the flow of compressed air through the outlet gap and, in a second configuration, to prevent the flow of compressed air through the outlet gap.
17. The air knife according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the air knife is configured to discharge the compressed air at a flow rate of approximately 2,500 l / min to approximately 2,700 l / min.
18. The air knife according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the air knife is configured to discharge the compressed air at a speed of approximately 40 meters / second to approximately 50 meters / second.
19. The air knife according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the air knife is operable to receive the compressed air at a pressure of at least about 0.3 MPa.
20. An apparatus for manufacturing glass ribbons, wherein the glass ribbons are separated by making cuts, and the apparatus, The apparatus comprises an air knife positioned adjacent to a notched portion of the glass ribbon and capable of discharging compressed air in a path parallel to the surface of the glass ribbon, thereby causing glass particles to flow away from the glass ribbon, the air knife comprising a body including a distal edge and a flat surface substantially perpendicular to the glass ribbon, a bumper positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the notched portion of the glass ribbon on the distal edge of the body, and an outlet gap positioned spaced apart from the bumper on the flat surface and capable of discharging the compressed air substantially perpendicular to the flat surface.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the air knife is configured to discharge compressed air for 1.5 to 2 seconds.
22. The apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the bumper is positioned between the glass ribbon and the main body.
23. The apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the discharged compressed air generates a low-pressure region adjacent to the separated glass ribbon, causing the discharged compressed air to flow along the flat surface in a direction away from the glass ribbon.
24. The apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the discharged compressed air moves the flow of glass particles generated by breaking the glass away from the glass ribbon.
25. The apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the bumper is spaced about 20 to 25 millimeters from the glass ribbon over the entire length of the bumper.
26. The apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the outlet gap is spaced about 30 millimeters to about 35 millimeters from the first surface of the glass ribbon over the entire length of the outlet gap.
27. The apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 26, wherein the bumper comprises a high-temperature heat-resistant silicone material having a melting point of over 400 degrees Celsius.
28. The apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 27, wherein the air knife is coupled to a glass separator configured to move in the same direction and at the same speed as the glass ribbon.
29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the air knife is configured to move along an axis perpendicular to the main surface of the glass ribbon.