Edge grinding apparatus

Abstract

An edge grinding apparatus for sheets of glass includes a conveyance device coupled to a support structure, wherein the conveyance device includes a conveying position and a grinding position, a carriage support disposed adjacent the conveyor, and a grinding carriage slidingly coupled to the carriage support, the grinding carriage including at least one movable grinding head, wherein a glass sheet is carried by the conveyance device from the conveying position to the grinding position, the glass sheet secured to one of the conveyance device and a fixed table while in the grinding position, at least one edge of the glass sheet ground by the at least one moveable grinding head while in the grinding position.

1 . An edge grinding apparatus for sheets of glass comprising:
 a conveyance device coupled to a support structure, wherein the conveyance device includes a conveying position and a grinding position;   a carriage support disposed adjacent the conveyor; and   a grinding carriage slidingly coupled to the carriage support, the grinding carriage including at least one movable grinding head, wherein a glass sheet is carried by the conveyance device from the conveying position to the grinding position, the glass sheet secured to one of the conveyance device and a fixed table while in the grinding position, at least one edge of the glass sheet ground by the at least one moveable grinding head while in the grinding position.   
     
     
         2 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance device includes a vacuum point to secure the glass sheet thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one edge of the glass sheet is ground by moving the grinding carriage along at least a portion of the carriage support such that the at least one moveable grinding head grinds the at least one edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one edge of the glass sheet is ground by moving the glass sheet past at least a portion of the carriage support such that the at least one moveable grinding head grinds the at least one edge of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the carriage support is disposed at least one of transversely and obliquely across the conveyor. 
     
     
         6 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass sheet has four edges, the four edges ground during one pass of the glass sheet past the carriage support. 
     
     
         7 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a flat chamfer is ground between the edges of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein a profile of the chamfer is able to be programmed by an operator of the edge grinding apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an arcuate shape is ground between the edges of the glass sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein a profile of the arcuate shape is able to be programmed by an operator of the edge grinding apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . An edge grinding apparatus for sheets of glass comprising:
 a platen slidingly coupled to a guide rail;   a first grinding bridge adjacent the guide rail;   a first grinding head slidingly coupled to the first grinding bridge;   a second grinding bridge adjacent the guide rail; and   a second grinding head slidingly coupled to the second grinding bridge, wherein the first grinding head and the second grinding head cooperate to grind a plurality of edges of a glass sheet coupled to the platen.   
     
     
         12 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the platen includes at least one vacuum point for securing the glass sheet to the platen. 
     
     
         13 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first grinding bridge and the second grinding bridge is disposed at least one of transversely and obliquely across the guide rail. 
     
     
         14 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one edge of the glass sheet is ground by moving the first grinding head along at least a portion of the first grinding bridge. 
     
     
         15 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one edge of the glass sheet is ground by moving the second grinding head along at least a portion of the second grinding bridge. 
     
     
         16 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one edge of the glass sheet is ground by moving the platen along the guide rail such that the glass sheet traverses at least one of the first grinding bridge and the second grinding bridge. 
     
     
         17 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the glass sheet has four edges, the four edges ground during one pass of the glass sheet past each of the first grinding bridge and the second grinding bridge. 
     
     
         18 . An edge grinding apparatus for sheets of glass comprising:
 a fixed table;   a conveyor movably coupled to a support structure adjacent the fixed table, the conveyor having a conveying position and a grinding position;   a carriage support adjacent the conveyor; and   a grinding carriage slidingly coupled to the carriage support, the grinding carriage including a pair of movable grinding heads, wherein a glass sheet is carried by the conveyor and deposited on the fixed table when the conveyor is moved into the grinding position, and wherein the glass sheet is selectively secured to the fixed table and a plurality of edges of the glass sheet are ground when the grinding carriage head traverses at least a portion of the carriage support.   
     
     
         19 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the fixed table includes at least one vacuum point for securing the glass sheet to the fixed table. 
     
     
         20 . The edge grinding apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising a part rotation table disposed adjacent the conveyor to rotate the glass sheet around an axis normal to a side of the glass sheet.