US4976766A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for positioning heated glass sheets without deformation
Assignee: Saint Gobain Glass France SAS
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Filing: 1989-11-06
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Granted: 1990-12-11
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Expires: 2009-11-06
Abstract
Abstract In a substantially horizontal conveyor or conveying heated glass sheets, a positioning device for aligning the sheets in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. It includes thrust rods advanced by the engagement of cam followers moving with the thrust rod on cams stationary with respect to the conveyor. Draw springs return the thrust rods to their initial position. The thrust rods are mounted on crosswise carriages, which are in turn mounted on carriages movable in the conveying direction and in synchronism with the glass sheets. The thrust rods are pivotally mounted on the crosswise carriages about horizontal axes, and so their distal ends can be displaced out of the plane of the glass sheets during the return movement of the carriage.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Werner Kuster
- 👤 Luc Vanaschen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:11
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B35/00; C03B35/14; B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; C03B23/00; C03B23/02; B65G2203/00; B65G2203/04; B65G2203/042; C03B2225/00; C03B2225/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In a substantially horizontal conveyor for conveying heated glass sheet like bodies in a conveying direction, a positioning device for aligning said sheet like bodies in a direction substantially transverse to the conveying direction, comprising: a carriage positioned laterally of the conveyor; means for moving said carriage in the conveying direction and in synchronism with a sheet like body on the conveyor; at least one thrust rod mounted on said carriage for movement in said transverse direction, whereby said at least one thrust rod is advanced into contact the sheet like body on the conveyor; and means for selectively advancing each said thrust rod into contact with said sheet like body, including: (a) a cam mounted stationarily with respect to said conveyor, and (b) a cam follower mounted with respect to said conveyor for movement in the conveying direction together with said thrust rod, said cam follower being mutually positioned such that said cam and said cam follower are engaged during movement of said carriage in said conveying direction, whereby said at least one thrust rod is advanced and aligns said sheet like body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a substantially horizontal conveyor for conveying heated glass sheet like bodies in a conveying direction, a positioning device for aligning said sheet like bodies in a direction substantially transverse to the conveying direction, comprising: a carriage positioned laterally of the conveyor; means for moving said carriage in the conveying direction and in synchronism with a sheet like body on the conveyor; at least one thrust rod mounted on said carriage for movement in said transverse direction, whereby said at least one thrust rod is advanced into contact the sheet like body on the conveyor; and means for selectively advancing each said thrust rod into contact with said sheet like body, including: (a) a cam mounted stationarily with respect to said conveyor, and (b) a cam follower mounted with respect to said conveyor for movement in the conveying direction together with said thrust rod, said cam follower being mutually positioned such that said cam and said cam follower are engaged during movement of said carriage in said conveying direction, whereby said at least one thrust rod is advanced and aligns said sheet like body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The conveyor of claim 1 wherein said cam is shaped with a gradual slope for advancing said thrust rod, whereby said thrust rod gently contacts the sheet like body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The conveyor of claim 2 including means for selectively displacing said thrust rod such that said thrust rod remains out of contact with said sheet like body when said thrust rod is advanced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conveyor of claim 3 including means for biasing said at least one thrust rod into a retracted position thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The conveyor of claim 1 including a bending device positioned downstream of said conveyor for bending the aligned heated glass sheets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The conveyor of claim 1 wherein said cam follower is a roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The conveyor of claim 1 wherein said at least one thrust rod comprises two thrust rods spaced from one another in the conveying direction, each said thrust rod being mounted on said carriage via crosswise carriages mounted on said carriage for movement in the transverse direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conveyor of claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprise draw springs extending between said carriage and said crosswise carriages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The conveyor of claim 7 wherein said means for selectively displacing comprise: means for pivotally mounting each said thrust rod on one of said crosswise carriages for pivoting said thrust rod about a horizontal axis to a displaced position wherein a distal end of said thrust rod is out of the plane of the glass sheets on the conveyor; and means for selectively pivoting said thrust rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The conveyor of claim 9 wherein said means for selectively pivoting comprise a solenoid having a solenoid rod connected to a pivot shaft of said thrust rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The conveyor of claim 5 wherein said cams are releasably mounted with respect to said conveyor, whereby they may be replaced with cams having different shapes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The conveyor of claim 7 wherein said cams are mounted such that said thrust rods are advanced simultaneously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The conveyor of claim 7 wherein said cams are mounted such that said thrust rods are advanced consecutively.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-10 | 1994-06-11 | 1994-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-10 | 1998-06-11 | 1998-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-10 | 2002-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |