Conveyance Device for Thin Glass Substrates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyance devices for thin glass substrates face challenges in maintaining flatness, particularly at the foremost end, which can lead to collisions with rollers or conveyance devices due to unsupported ends yielding to their weight during movement.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance device utilizing a combination of levitation sections that emit gas to levitate the substrate, conveyance sections with projections for driving, and suction sections to maintain contact and prevent deformation, ensuring the substrate remains flat by supporting its foremost end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a glass substrate is conveyed using a roller conveyor or belt conveyor without support at the foremost end, then the conveyance device structure is simple, but the foremost end yields downward due to its own weight causing potential collision with rollers or conveyance device
Solution Approach 1:
The suction section applies negative pressure to the glass substrate in advance before the foremost end reaches the critical position, causing the substrate to contact the projections proactively. This preliminary action prevents the downward yielding and collision that would occur without such pre-support.
Solution Approach 2:
The projections on the belt conveyor serve as an intermediary support element between the levitated glass substrate and the conveyance device. These projections provide the necessary support at the foremost end without requiring direct contact with the substrate's entire surface, thus preventing collision while maintaining simplicity.
2Shape
If the glass substrate is levitated without contact support, then the substrate flatness is maintained, but the foremost end cannot be supported causing downward yield and potential collision
Solution Approach 1:
The suction section applies negative pressure locally at the foremost end region of the glass substrate, creating a localized contact zone with the projections. This localized quality allows the foremost end to be supported without requiring the entire substrate to contact the conveyance device, thus maintaining overall flatness while providing necessary support.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction section uses pneumatic negative pressure to create a vacuum effect that pulls the glass substrate downward onto the projections. This pneumatic mechanism provides precise control over the contact pressure and position, enabling the foremost end to be supported while maintaining the substrate's flatness through controlled local deformation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If compressed air is emitted to levitate the glass substrate, then the substrate is conveyed without scratching, but local flexures occur at the foremost end due to lack of support
Solution Approach 1:
The suction section applies negative pressure in advance to create contact between the substrate and projections before the foremost end becomes unstable. This preliminary support action prevents the downward yielding and collision that would otherwise occur, thereby maintaining substrate flatness stability while preserving the scratch-free conveyance achieved through levitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The projections act as an intermediary support structure that bridges the gap between the levitated substrate and the conveyance device. These projections provide the necessary mechanical support at the foremost end without requiring the substrate to contact the entire conveyance surface, thus maintaining both scratch prevention and flatness stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses flexures and deformation, preventing collisions and maintaining the flatness of thin glass substrates during conveyance, even when the central part is slightly deformed, thereby ensuring stable and collision-free movement.
Implementation Method 1
a levitation section which emits the gas to apply pressure on the glass substrate to levitate the glass substrate
Implementation Method 2
a suction section which applies negative pressure on the glass substrate to have the glass substrate contact the conveyance section
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance device for levitating a subject body by a gas and conveying the subject body in a first direction is comprised of a levitation section emitting the gas to apply pressure on the subject body to levitate the subject body; a conveyance section comprising an endless belt elongated in the first direction and a plurality of projections projecting from the belt and capable of coming in contact with the subject body, and being configured to come in contact with and drive the subject body in the first direction; and a suction section elongated adjacent to and in parallel with the conveyance section or aligned with the conveyance section in a single straight line, the suction section applying negative pressure on the subject body to have the subject body in contact with the conveyance section.