Glass processing apparatus and methods

Abstract

Glass processing apparatus each include a first sheet guide device and a second sheet guide device with a gap configured to receive a glass sheet. In one example, an adjustment member can move the first sheet guide device relative to the second sheet guide device such that the gap is tapered with respect to a glass travel direction. In another example, a glass working member can work an edge of the glass sheet. In further examples, methods of processing a glass sheet each include the steps of providing a gap between a first sheet guide device and a second sheet guide device, passing an edge portion of the glass sheet through the gap, and working an edge of the glass sheet while passing the edge portion of the glass sheet through the gap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass processing apparatus comprising:
 a first sheet guide device;   a second sheet guide device, wherein the first sheet guide device is movably coupled relative to the second sheet guide device, and wherein a gap configured to receive a glass sheet is defined between the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device; and   an adjustment member configured to move the first sheet guide device relative to the second sheet guide device, such that the gap is tapered with respect to a glass travel direction.   
     
     
         2 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device comprises rollers. 
     
     
         3 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device comprises an endless belt. 
     
     
         4 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment member is off-center of the first sheet guide device. 
     
     
         5 . A glass processing apparatus comprising:
 a first sheet guide device;   a second sheet guide device, wherein the first sheet guide device is movably coupled relative to the second sheet guide device, and wherein a gap configured to receive a glass sheet is defined between the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device; and   a glass working member configured to work an edge of the glass sheet.   
     
     
         6 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device comprises rollers. 
     
     
         7 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device comprises an endless belt. 
     
     
         8 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising an adjustment member configured to move the first sheet guide device relative to the second sheet guide device, such that the gap is tapered with respect to a glass travel direction. 
     
     
         9 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the adjustment member is off-center of the first sheet guide device. 
     
     
         10 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device are mounted relative to the glass working member. 
     
     
         11 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device are adjustably mounted relative to the glass working member to allow selected positioning of the gap with respect to the glass working member. 
     
     
         12 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the glass working member comprises a glass working wheel including an outer peripheral working surface circumscribing a rotational axis of the glass working wheel, wherein the outer peripheral working surface includes an axial width extending along an axial direction of the rotational axis. 
     
     
         13 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device are adjustably mounted relative to the glass working wheel to allow selected positioning of the gap with respect to a preselected axial location along the axial width of the glass working wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a glass working shroud defining a glass working area, wherein the glass working member is at least partially received within the glass working area of the glass working shroud, and wherein the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device are mounted relative to the glass working shroud. 
     
     
         15 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device are adjustably mounted relative to the glass working member to allow selected positioning of the gap with respect to a slot defined by the glass working shroud. 
     
     
         16 . The glass processing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the glass working member comprises a glass working wheel including an outer peripheral working surface circumscribing a rotational axis of the glass working wheel, wherein the outer peripheral working surface includes an axial width extending along an axial direction of the rotational axis of the glass working wheel, and wherein the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device are adjustably mounted relative to the glass working wheel to allow selected positioning of the gap with respect to a preselected axial location along the axial width of the glass working wheel. 
     
     
         17 . A method of processing a glass sheet comprising the steps of:
 (I) providing a gap between a first sheet guide device and a second sheet guide device;   (II) passing an edge portion of the glass sheet through the gap in a glass travel direction, wherein the edge portion within the gap is supported by at least one of the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device; and   (III) working an edge of the glass sheet while passing the edge portion of the glass sheet through the gap.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is tapered with respect to the glass travel direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein step (II) further comprises the step of providing a lubricant between the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device while passing the edge portion of the glass sheet through the gap in a glass travel direction, wherein the edge portion is supported by the lubricant with at least one of the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first sheet guide device and the second sheet guide device are mounted relative to a glass working member.