Conveyance apparatus and method for manufacturing a glass article, a glass article made by this method and an electronic device comprising the same

Abstract

A method and apparatus for manufacturing glass articles, comprising a glass conveying device including an inflatable chamber having a fluid inlet, a plurality of sliding gates in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber, the plurality of sliding gates including a plurality of openings and movable from a first position to a second position, and a fluid support platform adjacent to the plurality of sliding gates including the plurality of openings.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This case claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 272,852, filed October 28, 2021, in accordance with the Patent Act, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This case generally relates to methods and apparatus for conveying glass, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for conveying glass having adjustable fluid flow rates. Prior Technology

[0003] In the production of glass products, such as glass sheets for display applications including televisions and handheld devices like phones and tablets, glass ribbons flow from forming units. As the glass ribbon exits the forming unit, it can be conveyed for further processing into individual glass products or sheets. During such conveying, it is preferable to minimize physical contact with the quality areas (i.e., non-edge areas) of the glass ribbon to prevent scratches or other defects on the surface. As glass ribbons become thinner and / or wider, conveying them without physical contact with quality areas while preventing undesirable deformation (e.g., sagging) of these areas becomes increasingly difficult. Therefore, there is a growing need for improved methods for conveying thin and / or wide glass ribbons. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments disclosed in this application include apparatus for manufacturing glass articles. The apparatus includes a glass conveying device. The glass conveying device includes an inflatable chamber having a fluid inlet. The glass conveying device also includes a plurality of sliding gates in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber, the sliding gates being movable from a first position to a second position. Each of the plurality of sliding gates includes a plurality of openings. Furthermore, the glass conveying device includes a fluid support platform adjacent to the plurality of sliding gates, the fluid support platform including a plurality of orifices. When at least one sliding gate is in the first position, the inflatable chamber is not in fluid communication with at least one orifice, and when at least one sliding gate is in the second position, the inflatable chamber is in fluid communication with at least one orifice.

[0005] The embodiments disclosed in this application also include a glass conveying device. The glass conveying device includes an inflatable chamber having a fluid inlet. The glass conveying device also includes a plurality of sliding gates in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber, the sliding gates being movable from a first position to a second position. Each of the plurality of sliding gates includes a plurality of openings. Furthermore, the glass conveying device includes a fluid support platform adjacent to the plurality of sliding gates, the fluid support platform including a plurality of orifices. When at least one sliding gate is in the first position, the inflatable chamber is not in fluid communication with at least one orifice, and when at least one sliding gate is in the second position, the inflatable chamber is in fluid communication with at least one orifice.

[0006] Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this case include a method for manufacturing glass articles. The method includes flowing a glass strip from a forming apparatus and along a drawing direction to a glass conveying device. The glass conveying device includes an inflatable chamber having a fluid inlet. The glass conveying device also includes a plurality of sliding gates in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber, movable from a first position to a second position. Each of the plurality of sliding gates includes a plurality of openings. Additionally, the glass conveying device includes a fluid support platform adjacent to the plurality of sliding gates, the fluid support platform including a plurality of orifices. When at least one sliding gate is in the first position, the inflatable chamber is not in fluid communication with at least one orifice, and when at least one sliding gate is in the second position, the inflatable chamber is in fluid communication with at least one orifice.

[0007] Additional features and advantages of the embodiments disclosed in this case will be set forth in the following detailed description, and will be partially apparent to those skilled in the art from that description, or will be understood by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the following detailed description, the claims, and the accompanying drawings.

[0008] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description both present embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or concept for understanding the nature and features of the embodiments disclosed herein. The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate different embodiments of this invention and, together with the description, explain their principles and operation. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example molten downdraw glass manufacturing equipment and process;

[0010] Figure 2 is a side perspective view of an exemplary glass manufacturing equipment and process;

[0011] Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0012] Figure 4 is a top perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0013] Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0014] Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of a glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0015] Figure 7 is a side perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0016] Figure 8 is a top perspective view of a fluid diffuser according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0017] Figures 9A-9D are top perspective views of sliding gates according to embodiments disclosed in this case;

[0018] Figure 10 is a side sectional perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0019] Figure 11 is a side sectional perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0020] Figure 12 is a side sectional perspective view of a portion of a glass belt and glass conveying device according to an embodiment disclosed in this case;

[0021] Figure 13 is a schematic side perspective view of an exemplary glass manufacturing apparatus and process according to an embodiment disclosed in this case; and

[0022] Figure 14 is a schematic side perspective view of an exemplary glass manufacturing apparatus and process according to an embodiment disclosed in this case. Implementation

[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of this invention, examples of which are shown in the drawings. Wherever possible, the same element symbols will be used in all the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. However, this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting it to the embodiments set forth in this invention.

[0024] The range may be expressed in the present case as from “about” one particular value and / or to “about” another particular value. When representing such a range, another embodiment includes from one specific value and / or to another specific value. Similarly, a particular value will be understood to form another embodiment when recourse to the use of the antecedent “about” to represent a value as an approximation. It will also be understood that the endpoints of each scope are important in relation to and independently of another endpoint.

[0025] Directional terms used in this case, such as up, down, right, left, front, back, top, bottom, proceed with reference only to the diagrams drawn and are not intended to imply absolute direction.

[0026] Unless otherwise expressly stated, no method articulated in this case shall be construed as requiring its steps to be performed in a particular order or, for any device, requiring no particular direction. Thus, never infer the order or orientation in any respect where a method claim does not actually state the order to be followed by its steps, or any apparatus claim does not actually state the order or orientation of individual components, or does not otherwise specifically indicate in the claim or description that the steps are to be limited to a particular order, or that the particular order or orientation of the parts of the device is not recorded. This applies to any possible non-expressive basis for interpretation, including: logical issues regarding the arrangement of steps, flow of operations, order of parts, or direction of parts, or simple implications derived from syntactic organization or punctuation, and the number or type of embodiments described in the instructions.

[0027] As used in this case, the singular forms “one,” “one,” and “the” include plural indicative objects, unless the context expressly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, references to “one” component, unless the context otherwise explicitly indicates, include states having two or more such components.

[0028] As described in the present case, the term “cooling mechanism” refers to a mechanism that provides increased heat transfer from the region relative to the situation where such cooling mechanism is not present. Heat transfer can occur through at least one of conduction, convection, or radiation.

[0029] As used in the present case, the term "heating mechanism" refers to a mechanism that provides reduced heat transfer from a region or increased heat transfer to a region relative to the absence of such heating mechanism. Heat transfer can occur through at least one of conduction, convection, or radiation.

[0030] As used in this application, the term "shell" refers to the shell in which the glass ribbon is formed, wherein as the glass ribbon passes through the shell, it is typically cooled from a relatively high temperature to a relatively low temperature. Although the embodiments disclosed in this application have been described with reference to a melt-draw process in which the glass ribbon flows downward through the shell in a generally vertical direction, such embodiments are also applicable to other glass forming processes, such as float glass, slot drawing, updraw, and rolling processes, in which the glass ribbon may flow through the shell in different directions, such as a generally vertical direction or a generally horizontal direction.

[0031] Figure 1 illustrates an example glass manufacturing apparatus 10. In some examples, the glass manufacturing apparatus 10 may include a glass furnace 12, which may include a melting vessel 14. In addition to the melting vessel 14, the glass furnace 12 may optionally include one or more additional components, such as heating elements (e.g., burners or electrodes), which heat the raw material and convert it into molten glass. In further examples, the glass furnace 12 may include thermal management devices (e.g., insulating components) that reduce heat loss from the vicinity of the melting vessel. In even further examples, the glass furnace 12 may include electronic and / or motor devices that facilitate the melting of the raw material into molten glass. Furthermore, the glass furnace 12 may include a support structure (e.g., a support chassis, support elements, etc.) or other components.

[0032] The glass melting vessel 14 is typically made of refractory materials, such as refractory ceramic materials, for example, refractory ceramic materials containing alumina or zirconium oxide. In some examples, the glass melting vessel 14 may be made of refractory ceramic bricks. Specific embodiments of the glass melting vessel 14 will be described in more detail below.

[0033] In some embodiments, a glass furnace may be incorporated as a component of a glass manufacturing apparatus to manufacture glass substrates, such as glass ribbons of continuous length. In some examples, the glass furnace of this invention may be incorporated as a component of a glass manufacturing apparatus that includes slit drawing equipment, bath equipment, down-drawing equipment such as a fusion process, up-drawing equipment, rolling equipment that would benefit from the aspects disclosed herein, tube drawing equipment, or any other glass manufacturing equipment. For example, FIG1 schematically illustrates a glass furnace 12 as a component of a molten down-drawing glass manufacturing apparatus 10 for melting and drawing glass ribbons for subsequent processing into individual glass sheets.

[0034] The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 (e.g., the melt pull apparatus 10) may optionally include an upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 16 disposed upstream of the glass melting vessel 14. In some examples, a portion or all of the upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 16 may be incorporated as part of the glass furnace 12.

[0035] As shown in the figure, the upstream glass manufacturing equipment 16 may include a storage tank 18, a raw material conveying device 20, and a motor 22 connected to the raw material conveying device. The storage tank 18 may be configured to store a certain amount of raw material 24 that can be fed into the melting vessel 14 of the glass furnace 12, as indicated by arrow 26. The raw material 24 typically contains one or more glass-forming metal oxides and one or more modifiers. In some examples, the raw material conveying device 20 may be powered by the motor 22, such that the raw material conveying device 20 conveys a predetermined amount of raw material 24 from the storage tank 18 to the melting vessel 14. In a further example, the motor 22 may power the raw material conveying device 20 to introduce the raw material 24 at a controlled rate based on the molten glass level detected downstream of the melting vessel 14. The raw material 24 within the melting vessel 14 may then be heated to form molten glass 28.

[0036] The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 may optionally include a downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 located downstream of the glass furnace 12. In some embodiments, a portion of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may be incorporated as part of the glass furnace 12. In some cases, the first connecting conduit 32, discussed below, or other portions of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30, may be incorporated as part of the glass furnace 12. Components of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus, including the first connecting conduit 32, may be formed of a precious metal. Suitable precious metals include platinum group metals selected from platinum, iridium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and palladium, or alloys thereof. For example, downstream components of the glass manufacturing apparatus may be formed of a platinum-rhodium alloy comprising about 70% to about 90% by weight of platinum and about 10% to about 30% by weight of rhodium. However, other suitable metals may include molybdenum, palladium, rhenium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, and alloys thereof.

[0037] Downstream glass manufacturing equipment 30 may include a first conditioning (i.e., processing) container, such as a refining container 34, located downstream of the melting container 14 and connected to the melting container 14 via the aforementioned first connecting conduit 32. In some examples, molten glass 28 may be gravity-fed from the melting container 14 to the refining container 34 via the first connecting conduit 32. For example, gravity may cause the molten glass 28 to pass through the internal channels of the first connecting conduit 32 from the melting container 14 to the refining container 34. However, other conditioning containers may be located downstream of the melting container 14, for example, between the melting container 14 and the refining container 34. In some embodiments, a conditioning container may be used between the melting container and the refining container, wherein molten glass from a main melting container is further heated to continue the melting process, or cooled to a temperature below the temperature of the molten glass in the melting process before entering the refining container.

[0038] Various techniques can be used to remove air bubbles from the molten glass 28 within the clarifying vessel 34. For example, the raw material 24 may contain a polyvalent compound (i.e., a clarifying agent), such as tin oxide, which undergoes a chemical reduction reaction upon heating and releases oxygen. Other suitable clarifying agents include, but are not limited to, arsenic, antimony, iron, and cerium. The clarifying vessel 34 is heated to a temperature higher than that of the molten vessel, thereby heating the molten glass and the clarifying agent. The temperature of the clarifying agent induces the oxygen produced by chemical reduction, which can diffuse or coalesce into bubbles generated in the molten glass during the melting process. The enlarged gas bubbles can then rise to the free surface of the molten glass in the clarifying vessel and then escape from the clarifying vessel. The oxygen bubbles can further induce mechanical mixing of the molten glass in the clarifying vessel.

[0039] The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may also include another regulating vessel, such as a mixing vessel 36 for mixing molten glass. The mixing vessel 36 may be located downstream of the refining vessel 34. The mixing vessel 36 can be used to provide a homogeneous glass melt composition, thereby reducing cords of chemical or thermal inhomogeneities that may be present in the refined molten glass leaving the refining vessel. As shown, the refining vessel 34 may be connected to the mixing vessel 36 via a second connecting conduit 38. In some examples, the molten glass 28 may be gravity-fed from the refining vessel 34 to the mixing vessel 36 via the second connecting conduit 38. For example, gravity may cause the molten glass 28 to travel from the refining vessel 34 to the mixing vessel 36 via an internal path of the second connecting conduit 38. Although the mixing vessel 36 is shown downstream of the refining vessel 34, the mixing vessel 36 may be located upstream of the refining vessel 34. In some embodiments, the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may include multiple mixing vessels, such as a mixing vessel upstream of the refining vessel 34 and a mixing vessel downstream of the refining vessel 34. These multiple mixing vessels may have the same design or they may have different designs.

[0040] Downstream glass manufacturing equipment 30 may also include another regulating container, such as a conveying container 40 located downstream of mixing container 36. Conveying container 40 can regulate the feeding of molten glass 28 to a downstream forming apparatus. For example, conveying container 40 can act as an accumulator and / or flow controller to regulate and / or provide a consistent flow rate of molten glass 28 to forming body 42 via outlet conduit 44. As shown, mixing container 36 can be connected to conveying container 40 via a third connecting conduit 46. In some examples, molten glass 28 can be gravity-fed from mixing container 36 to conveying container 40 via the third connecting conduit 46. For example, gravity can drive molten glass 28 from mixing container 36 to conveying container 40 via an internal path of the third connecting conduit 46.

[0041] The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may further include a forming apparatus 48, which includes the aforementioned forming body 42 and inlet conduit 50. An outlet conduit 44 may be configured to convey molten glass 28 from the conveying container 40 to the inlet conduit 50 of the forming apparatus 48. For example, the outlet conduit 44 may be nested within and spaced apart from the inner surface of the inlet conduit 50, thereby providing a free surface for the molten glass between the outer surface of the outlet conduit 44 and the inner surface of the inlet conduit 50. The forming body 42 in the molten glass drawing apparatus may include a groove 52 located in the upper surface of the forming body 42, and a converging forming surface 54 converging in the drawing direction along the bottom edge 56 of the forming body 42. Molten glass conveyed to the forming body groove via the conveying container 40, outlet conduit 44, and inlet conduit 50 overflows the sidewalls of the groove and descends along the converging forming surface 54 as a separate stream. Separate flows of molten glass converge below and along the bottom edge 56 to form a single glass ribbon 58. The ribbon 58 is drawn from the bottom edge 56 along the drawing or flow direction 60 by applying tension (e.g., by gravity, edge rollers 72, and traction rollers 82) to control its dimensions as the glass cools and its viscosity increases. Thus, the glass ribbon 58 undergoes a viscoelastic transition and acquires mechanical properties that give it stable dimensional characteristics. In some embodiments, the glass ribbon 58 can be separated into individual glass sheets 62 in an elastic region by a glass separation device 100. A robot 64 can then use a gripping tool 65 to transfer the individual glass sheets 62 to a conveying system for further processing.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary glass manufacturing apparatus 10 and process. The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 and process of Figure 2 are similar to those of Figure 1, except that in Figure 2, the forming device includes a forming container 142, which includes a slot 156 from which the glass strip 58 flows in a drawing direction 60. Furthermore, in Figure 2, the glass manufacturing apparatus includes a pair of opposing forming rollers 160 downstream of the slot 156, which are configured to contact opposing main surfaces of the glass strip 58. The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 also includes a reorientation mechanism 170 configured to reorient the drawing direction 60 from a generally perpendicular 60A (i.e., parallel to the gravity vector) between the forming device (including the forming container 142) and the reorientation mechanism 170 to a generally horizontal 60B downstream of the reorientation mechanism 170. As shown in Figure 2, the reorientation mechanism 170 includes a plurality of rollers 180, each configured to contact an edge region of the glass strip 58. Roller 180 can also facilitate the horizontal transport of glass belt 58 downstream of reorientation mechanism 170.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of a glass conveying device 200 according to an embodiment disclosed in this case. The glass conveying device 200 includes an inflatable chamber 206 and a mounting bracket 208. The glass conveying device 200 also includes a fluid support stage 202, which includes a plurality of orifices 204 (e.g., an array of orifices 204), each orifice extending through the thickness of the fluid support stage 202.

[0044] The inflation chamber 206 may, for example, comprise stainless steel, aluminum, or a chromium-nickel-iron alloy. The fluid carrying stage 202 may, for example, comprise stainless steel, aluminum, a chromium-nickel-iron alloy, ceramic material, or polymer material. The orifice 204 may, for example, have a diameter ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm.

[0045] Figures 4 and 5 show a top perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device 200 according to an embodiment disclosed in this case, wherein the fluid support platform 202 is not shown. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the glass conveying device 200 includes a plurality of sliding gates 210 in fluid communication with an inflation chamber 206. In Figure 4, the sliding gates 210 are movable in the direction indicated by the double arrow "X", and in Figure 5, the sliding gates 210 are movable in the direction indicated by the double arrow "Y". Specifically, in Figure 4, the sliding gates 210 are movable in a direction perpendicular to the drawing direction 60, while in Figure 5, the sliding gates 210 are movable in a direction parallel to the drawing direction 60.

[0046] Figure 6 shows a bottom perspective view of a glass conveying device 200 according to an embodiment disclosed in this case. As shown in Figure 6, the inflation chamber 206 includes a fluid inlet 212. The fluid inlet 212 facilitates the flow of fluid from a fluid source (not shown) into the inflation chamber 206.

[0047] While the fluid flowing into the gas chamber 206 via fluid inlet 212 may include at least one of a gas or a liquid, in some exemplary embodiments, the fluid includes a gas, such as air. For example, the fluid may include at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, helium, argon, or combinations thereof. The fluid may also consist substantially of at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, helium, argon, or combinations thereof.

[0048] Figure 7 shows a side perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device 200 according to an embodiment disclosed in this case, wherein one side of the inflatable chamber 206 is not shown. As shown in Figure 7, the glass conveying device 200 includes a fluid diffuser 214. The fluid diffuser 214 is positioned within the inflatable chamber 206 and extends between a fluid inlet 212 and a plurality of sliding gates 210 (e.g., shown in Figures 4 and 5).

[0049] Figures 4, 6, and 7 illustrate a glass conveying device 200 having a fluid support stage 202, which includes a generally flat surface. The embodiments disclosed herein may also include a conveying device 200 having a fluid support stage 202, which includes other surface geometries, such as non-planar surfaces. For example, as shown by dashed lines "A" and "B" in Figure 7, the fluid support stage 202 may have a curved surface in one or more directions.

[0050] Figure 8 shows a top perspective view of a fluid diffuser 214 according to an embodiment disclosed in this case. The fluid diffuser 214 includes a plurality of perforations or orifices 216 through which fluid can flow from one main surface (i.e., facing the fluid inlet 212) to another main surface of the fluid diffuser 214 (i.e., facing the sliding gate 210). When located within the air chamber 206, for example, in Figure 7, the fluid diffuser 214 serves to redistribute the fluid flow such that the fluid flow and pressure are more evenly distributed in the region of the air chamber 206 between the fluid diffuser 214 and the sliding gate 210 (i.e., in the region of the air chamber 206 above the fluid diffuser 214, as shown in Figure 7) than in the region of the air chamber 206 between the fluid inlet 212 and the fluid diffuser 214 (i.e., in the region of the air chamber 206 below the fluid diffuser 214, as shown in Figure 7).

[0051] In some exemplary embodiments, the fluid diffuser 214 may include stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, a ceramic material, or a polymeric material. The perforation or orifice 216 may, for example, have a diameter ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm.

[0052] Figures 9A-9D show top perspective views of sliding gates 210A-D according to embodiments disclosed in this case. As shown in Figure 9A, sliding gate 210A includes a plurality of openings 218A having substantially the same size, shape, and distance from each other. As shown in Figure 9B, sliding gate 210B includes a plurality of openings 218B having substantially the same size and shape, but with different relative distances from each other. Specifically, sliding gate 210B includes a higher density of openings 218B near its end region than in its central region. As shown in Figure 9C, sliding gate 210C includes a plurality of openings 218C having substantially the same size and shape, but with different relative distances from each other. Specifically, sliding gate 210C includes a lower density of openings 218C near its end region than in its central region. As shown in Figure 9D, sliding gate 210D includes a plurality of openings 218D, at least some of which have different sizes, shapes, or distances from each other.

[0053] In some exemplary embodiments, the sliding gate 210A-D may include stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, a ceramic material, or a polymeric material. The opening 218A-D may, for example, have a diameter ranging from about 1 millimeter to about 1 centimeter.

[0054] Figures 10 and 11 show a side sectional perspective view of a portion of a glass conveying device 200 according to an embodiment disclosed herein. Specifically, Figure 10 shows a portion of a fluid support platform 202 and a sliding gate 210 positioned relative to the fluid support platform 202 in a first position. As shown in Figure 10, when the sliding gate 210 is positioned near and below the fluid support platform 202, the orifice 204 of the fluid support platform 202 is not in fluid communication with the opening 218 of the sliding gate 210, such that the inflation chamber 206 is not in fluid communication with the orifice 204. Conversely, Figure 11 shows this portion of the fluid support platform 202 and this portion of the sliding gate 210 positioned relative to the fluid support platform 202 in a second position, wherein the sliding gate 210 has been moved relative to the fluid support platform 202, as indicated by arrow "M". As shown in Figure 11, the orifice 204 of the fluid support platform 202 is axially aligned with the opening 218 of the sliding gate 210, so that the orifice 204 of the fluid support platform 202 and the opening 218 of the sliding gate 210 are in fluid communication, and therefore the air chamber 206 is in fluid communication with the orifice 204.

[0055] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this case include those in which the inflation chamber 206 is not in fluid communication with at least one orifice 204 when at least one sliding gate 210 is in a first position (e.g., as shown in FIG10), and the inflation chamber 206 is in fluid communication with at least one orifice 204 when at least one sliding gate 210 is in a second position (e.g., as shown in FIG11).

[0056] Figure 12 shows a side sectional perspective view of the glass belt 58 and a portion of the glass conveying device 200 according to an embodiment disclosed in this case. Specifically, Figure 12 shows that the glass belt 58 can be positioned and / or conveyed above the fluid support platform 202, such that a fluid pad 158 extends between the fluid support platform 202 and the glass belt 58. For example, when at least one sliding gate 210 is in a second positioning (e.g., as shown in Figure 11), the fluid pad 158 can be generated such that an inflation chamber 206 is in fluid communication with at least one orifice 204, allowing fluid from the inflation chamber 206 to flow through the orifice 204 to the glass belt 58 (so that the inflation chamber 206 can be in fluid communication with the glass belt 58), which in turn contributes to the height of the glass belt 58 on the fluid pad 158.

[0057] In some exemplary embodiments, the glass strip 58 positioned and / or conveyed above the fluid carrier stage 202 has a thickness of less than about 0.5 mm, for example less than about 0.4 mm, and further for example less than about 0.3 mm, and even further for example less than about 0.2 mm, for example about about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, including about 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm.

[0058] By moving one or more sliding gates 210 relative to the fluid support platform 202, the total amount of fluid communication between the inflation chamber 206 and the glass strip 58 can be changed or adjusted. For example, the embodiments disclosed herein include those with no sliding gates 210, some or all of the plurality of sliding gates 210 in a first position or a second position, and / or moving from the first position to the second position. For example, depending on the configuration of the sliding gates 210, including the arrangement of openings on the sliding gates 210 (e.g., as shown in Figures 9A-9D), and the configuration of the fluid support platform 202, including the arrangement of orifices 204 on the fluid support platform 202, movement of the sliding gates 210 can result in a certain percentage of orifices 204 being in fluid communication with the inflation chamber 206 (i.e., via fluid flowing through the openings of the sliding gates 210).

[0059] For example, when at least one of the plurality of sliding gates 210 is in a first position, orifices 204 are in fluid communication with the inflation chamber 206 at less than about 75%, for example less than about 50%, further for example less than about 25%, and even further for example less than about 10%, for example from about 0% to about 75%, and even further for example from about 1% to about 50%, and even further for example from about 2% to about 25%, and even further for example from about 3% to about 10%. Conversely, when at least one of the plurality of sliding gates 210 is in a second position, orifices 204 are in fluid communication with the inflation chamber 206 at more than about 25%, for example greater than about 50%, and even further for example greater than about 75%, and even further for example greater than about 90%, for example from about 25% to about 100%, further for example from about 50% to about 99%, and even further for example from about 75% to about 98%, and even further for example from about 90% to about 97%.

[0060] Therefore, the fluid pad 158 between the fluid support platform 202 and the glass strip 58 can be dynamically controlled or adjusted in real time by moving one or more of the plurality of sliding gates 210, for example, between a first position and a second position. For example, depending on the process conditions, including the geometry of the glass strip 58 (e.g., width and / or thickness) and / or the drawing speed, the total pressure applied to the glass strip 58 by the glass conveying equipment 200 can be controlled or adjusted by controlling or adjusting one or more of the plurality of sliding gates 210.

[0061] Figures 13 and 14 show schematic side perspective views of an exemplary glass manufacturing apparatus 10 and process according to an embodiment disclosed in this case. The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 and process in Figures 13 and 14 are similar to those in Figure 2, except that in Figures 13 and 14, one or more glass conveying devices 200 have been positioned along the pulling direction 60 of the glass belt 58 (and some or all of the rollers 180 have been replaced).

[0062] Specifically, Figure 13 shows a glass conveying device 200 positioned below the glass belt 58 along a generally horizontal drawing direction 60B. Figure 13 also shows the glass conveying device 200 disposed below the glass belt 58 and between the generally vertical drawing directions 60A and 60B (i.e., oriented at an angle relative to the generally vertical and generally horizontal drawing directions 60A and 60B). Furthermore, Figure 13 shows rollers 180 positioned along the drawing direction 60 and between and / or around the glass conveying device 200, such that Figure 13 shows a glass manufacturing apparatus 10 including rollers 180 and glass conveying device 200.

[0063] Similar to Figure 13, Figure 14 also shows at least one glass conveying device 200 positioned below the glass strip 58 along a substantially horizontal 60B drawing direction 60, and at least one glass conveying device 200 positioned below the glass strip 58 and between the substantially vertical 60A and substantially horizontal 60B drawing directions 60. Furthermore, Figure 14 shows two opposing glass conveying devices 200 positioned along a substantially vertical 60A drawing direction 60 (i.e., positioned on either side of the glass strip 58 along the substantially vertical 60A drawing direction 60). Figure 14 also shows a glass conveying device 200 positioned above the glass strip 58 along a substantially horizontal 60B drawing direction 60, and two glass conveying devices 200 positioned above the glass strip 58 and between the substantially vertical 60A and substantially horizontal 60B drawing directions 60.

[0064] In addition, more than one glass conveying device 200 can be placed along the width direction of the glass strip 58, for example, in the case of conveying a very wide glass strip 58 along the drawing direction 60.

[0065] In some exemplary embodiments, the glass conveying device 200 may include or provide a cooling mechanism and / or a heating mechanism to achieve heat transfer between the glass conveying device 200 and the glass strip 58. The cooling mechanism may be caused, for example, by normal operation of the glass conveying device 200, wherein fluid from the gas chamber 206 flows through the orifice 204 to the glass strip 58. Furthermore, the cooling mechanism may include one or more components to provide additional heat transfer between the glass conveying device 200 and the glass strip 58, such as a convection enhancer (e.g., a cooling fan) and / or a system including circulating cooling fluid (e.g., a multiphase cooling system). The heating mechanism may include, for example, resistance-based, combustion-based, or induction-based heating elements.

[0066] The embodiments disclosed in this application are capable of manufacturing thin and / or wide glass articles, such as thin and / or wide glass sheets with a flat surface having minimal surface defects, for example, with a thickness of less than about 0.5 mm, for example, less than about 0.4 mm, further for example, less than about 0.3 mm, and even further for example, less than about 0.2 mm, for example, from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm, including glass sheets from about 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm.

[0067] Although the above embodiments have been described with reference to the melt-drawing and slot-drawing methods, it should be understood that such embodiments are also applicable to other glass forming processes, such as flotation, up-drawing, and rolling processes.

[0068] This type of process can be used to manufacture glass products, which can be used in applications such as electronic devices.

[0069] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, this application is intended to cover modifications and variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents.

[0070] 10: Glass manufacturing equipment 12: Furnace 14: Melting container 16: Upstream glass manufacturing equipment 18: Storage box 20: Raw material conveying equipment 22: Motor 24: Raw materials 26: Arrow 28: Molten Glass 30: Downstream glass manufacturing equipment 32: First connecting catheter 34: Clarifying Container 36: Mixing container 38: Second connecting catheter 40: Conveying Container 42: Forming Main Body 44: Outlet conduit 46: Third connecting catheter 48: Forming equipment 50: Inlet catheter 52: slot 54: Converging Surface 56: Bottom edge 58: Glass ribbon 60: Pulling direction 60A: Roughly vertical 60B: Approximately horizontal 62: Glass plate 64: Robot 65: Grip tool 72: Glass ribbon 82: Traction Roller 100: Glass Separation Equipment 142: Molded Container 156: Slot 158: Slot 160: Forming roller 170: Reorientation Agency 180: Roller 200: Glass conveying equipment 202: Fluid support platform 204: Orifice 206: Inflatable chamber 208: Mounting bracket 210: Sliding gate 210A: Sliding gate 210B: Sliding gate 210C: Sliding gate 210D: Sliding gate 212: Fluid inlet 214: Fluid Diffuser 216: Orifice 218A: Opening 218B: Opening 218C: Opening 218D: Opening

[0071] Domestic storage information (please note in order of storage institution, date, and number) none Overseas storage information (please note in the order of storage country, institution, date, and number) none

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing a glass article, comprising a glass conveying device, the glass conveying device including: An inflation chamber including a fluid inlet; a plurality of sliding gates, each of which is in fluid communication with the inflation chamber and movable from a first position to a second position, and including a plurality of openings; a fluid support platform adjacent to the plurality of sliding gates, the fluid support platform including a plurality of orifices; and one of the orifices of the fluid support platform is not axially aligned with and not in fluid communication with the plurality of openings of one of the plurality of sliding gates, such that when the sliding gate is in the first position, the inflation chamber is not in fluid communication with the orifice, and the orifice is axially aligned with one of the plurality of openings of the sliding gate such that when the sliding gate is in the second position, the orifice is in fluid communication with the opening, and therefore when the sliding gate is in the second position, the inflation chamber is in fluid communication with the orifice.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a forming device configured to allow a glass strip to flow from the forming device and into the glass conveying device in a drawing direction.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of sliding gates is movable in a direction parallel to the pulling direction.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of sliding gates is movable in a direction perpendicular to the pulling direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a reorientation mechanism configured to reorient the drawing direction from a generally perpendicular drawing direction between the forming device and the reorientation mechanism to a generally horizontal drawing direction downstream of the reorientation mechanism.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the glass conveying apparatus is positioned along the generally horizontal pulling direction.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the glass conveying apparatus is positioned between the generally vertical pulling direction and the generally horizontal pulling direction.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the apparatus comprises two opposing glass conveying devices positioned along the generally perpendicular drawing direction.

9. A glass conveying device, comprising: An inflation chamber including a fluid inlet; a plurality of sliding gates, each of which is in fluid communication with the inflation chamber and movable from a first position to a second position, and including a plurality of openings; a fluid support platform adjacent to the plurality of sliding gates, the fluid support platform including a plurality of orifices; and one of the orifices of the fluid support platform is not axially aligned with and not in fluid communication with the orifices of one of the sliding gates, such that when the sliding gate is in the first position, the inflation chamber is not in fluid communication with the orifice, and the orifice is axially aligned with one of the openings of the sliding gate, such that when the sliding gate is in the second position, the orifice is in fluid communication with the opening, and therefore when the sliding gate is in the second position, the inflation chamber is in fluid communication with the orifice.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further includes a fluid diffuser located between the fluid inlet and the plurality of sliding gates.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein all of the plurality of openings of the sliding gate have the same size, all of the plurality of openings of the sliding gate have the same shape, and the spacing between each pair of adjacent openings in the plurality of openings of the sliding gate is the same, wherein the plurality of openings are spaced apart along an axis in a sliding direction.

12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein not all of the plurality of openings (218D) of the sliding gate (210D) have the same size, not all of the plurality of openings (218D) of the sliding gate (210D) have the same shape, and / or a spacing between a pair of adjacent openings (218B, 218C) of the plurality of openings (210B, 210C) of the sliding gate (210B, 210C) is different from a spacing between another pair of adjacent openings (218B, 218C) of the plurality of openings (218B, 218C) of the sliding gate (210B, 210C, 210D), and wherein the plurality of openings (218B, 218C, 218D) of each sliding gate (210B, 210C, 210D) are spaced apart along an axis in a sliding direction.

13. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fluid support stage includes a generally flat surface.

14. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fluid support stage includes a non-planar surface.

15. The device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising at least one of a heating mechanism or a cooling mechanism.

16. A method of manufacturing a glass article, comprising the step of flowing a glass strip from a forming apparatus along a drawing direction to a glass conveying device, the glass conveying device comprising: An inflation chamber including a fluid inlet; a plurality of sliding gates, each of which is in fluid communication with the inflation chamber and movable from a first position to a second position, and including a plurality of openings; a fluid support platform adjacent to the plurality of sliding gates, the fluid support platform including a plurality of orifices; and one of the orifices of the fluid support platform is not axially aligned with and not in fluid communication with the plurality of openings of one of the plurality of sliding gates such that when the sliding gate is in the first position, the inflation chamber is not in fluid communication with the orifice, and the orifice is axially aligned with one of the plurality of openings of the sliding gate such that when the sliding gate is in the second position, the orifice is in fluid communication with the opening, and therefore when the sliding gate is in the second position, the inflation chamber is in fluid communication with the orifice.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: reorienting the drawing direction from a generally perpendicular drawing direction between the forming apparatus and a reorienting mechanism to a generally horizontal drawing direction downstream of the reorienting mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the glass conveying device is positioned along the generally horizontal pulling direction.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the glass conveying device is positioned between the generally vertical pulling direction and the generally horizontal pulling direction.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the glass conveying device comprises two opposing glass conveying devices positioned along the generally perpendicular drawing direction.

21. A glass article made by the method of claim 16.

22. An electronic device comprising the glass article of claim 21.

23. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 9, wherein another of the plurality of orifices of the fluid support stage is axially aligned with another of the plurality of openings of the sliding gate to provide fluid communication between the other orifice and the inflation chamber when the sliding gate is in the first position.

24. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein when the sliding gate is in the first position, less than about 75% of the plurality of orifices are in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein another orifice of the plurality of orifices of the fluid support platform is axially aligned with another opening of the plurality of openings of the sliding gate to provide fluid communication between the other orifice and the inflation chamber when the sliding gate is in the first position.

26. The method as described in claim 25, wherein when the sliding gate is in the first position, less than about 75% of the plurality of orifices are in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber.

Images