Methods and apparatuses for edge finishing glass substrates

Abstract

A glass support system for a glass edge finishing apparatus includes a vacuum member that is configured to extend lengthwise in a glass feed direction and along an edge of a glass substrate. The vacuum member has a vacuum body that includes a pressure chamber located therein and a support surface having an array of vacuum openings extending therethrough and in communication with the pressure chamber. The array of vacuum openings is arranged in multiple, side-by-side rows with substantially uniform spacing between the vacuum openings along each one of the multiple rows.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass support system, comprising:
 a vacuum member configured to extend lengthwise in a glass feed direction along an edge of a glass substrate, the vacuum member comprising a vacuum body including a pressure chamber located therein and a support surface including an array of vacuum openings extending therethrough and in communication with the pressure chamber; and   wherein the array of vacuum openings is arranged in multiple, side-by-side rows and substantially uniform spacing between the vacuum openings along each one of the multiple rows.   
     
     
         2 . The glass support system of  claim 1 , wherein the array of vacuum openings are arranged in multiple, side-by-side columns having substantially uniform spacing between the vacuum openings along each one of the multiple columns. 
     
     
         3 . The glass support system of  claim 1 , wherein the array of vacuum openings has at least about 25 openings per 100 cm 2  of support surface area. 
     
     
         4 . The glass support system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum openings have a width of no more than about 10 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The glass support system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum openings have a radius of no more than about 2 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The glass support system of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface comprises a compliant material. 
     
     
         7 . The glass support system of  claim 1 , further comprising an edge guide assembly comprising an upper edge guide member and a lower edge guide member spaced from the upper edge guide member to provide a path through which the glass substrate can travel. 
     
     
         8 . The glass support system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member includes rollers forming a dynamic support surface configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The glass support system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member comprises a bar of a material that is configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The glass support system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member comprises a belt assembly including a belt comprising a guide surface configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         11 . A glass edge finishing apparatus comprising:
 a glass transport system; and   a glass support system that is moved by the glass transport system in a glass feed direction, the glass support system configured to support a glass substrate having a thickness of no more than about 0.7 mm, the glass substrate including a generally planar surface and an out-of-plane direction normal to the generally planar surface, the glass support system comprising:
 a vacuum member configured to extend lengthwise in the glass feed direction and along an edge of the glass substrate, the vacuum member comprising a vacuum body including a pressure chamber located therein and a support surface comprising an array of vacuum openings with an opening density of at least about 25 openings per 100 cm 2  of support surface area extending therethrough and in communication with the pressure chamber. 
   
     
     
         12 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the array of vacuum openings are arranged in multiple, side-by-side columns with substantially uniform spacing between the vacuum openings along each one of the multiple columns. 
     
     
         13 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the array of vacuum openings are arranged in multiple, side-by-side rows with substantially uniform spacing between the vacuum openings along each one of the multiple rows. 
     
     
         14 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum openings have a width of no more than about 10 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum openings have a width of no more than about 4 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the support surface comprises a compliant material. 
     
     
         17 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an edge guide assembly comprising an upper edge guide member and a lower edge guide member spaced from the upper edge guide member to provide a path through which the glass substrate can travel. 
     
     
         18 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member includes rollers forming a dynamic support surface configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member comprises a bar of a material that is configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member comprises a belt assembly including a belt comprising a guide surface configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         21 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising an abrasive wheel assembly configured to bevel the edge of the glass substrate. 
     
     
         22 . A method of finishing an edge of a glass substrate, the method comprising:
 supporting the glass substrate on a glass support system, the glass substrate comprising a generally planar surface and thickness equal to or less than about 0.7 mm and an out-of-plane direction normal to the generally planar surface, the glass support system comprising:
 a vacuum member configured to extend lengthwise in the glass feed direction and along an edge of the glass substrate, the vacuum member comprising a vacuum body including a pressure chamber located therein and a support surface comprising an array of vacuum openings with an opening density of at least about 25 openings per 100 cm 2  extending therethrough and in communication with the pressure chamber; 
   applying a negative pressure through the array of vacuum openings to the generally planar surface; and   beveling the edge of the glass substrate using an abrasive wheel assembly.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising supporting the glass substrate using an edge guide assembly comprising an upper edge guide member and a lower edge guide member spaced from the upper edge guide member to provide a path through with the glass substrate can travel. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the array of vacuum openings are arranged in multiple, side-by-side columns with substantially uniform spacing between the vacuum openings along each one of the multiple columns. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the array of vacuum openings are arranged in multiple, side-by-side rows with substantially uniform spacing between the vacuum openings along each one of the multiple rows. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising positioning the glass substrate on the vacuum member providing an overhang between the vacuum member and the edge of the glass substrate. 
     
     
         27 . A glass edge finishing apparatus comprising:
 a glass transport system;   a glass support system movable in a glass feed direction by the glass transport system, the glass support system configured to support a glass substrate having a thickness of no more than about 0.7 mm, the glass substrate having a generally planar surface and an out-of-plane direction normal to the generally planar surface, the glass support system comprising:
 a vacuum member configured to extend lengthwise along an edge of the glass substrate in the glass feed direction, the vacuum member comprising a vacuum body including a pressure chamber located therein and a support surface comprising a plurality of vacuum openings extending therethrough and in communication with the pressure chamber; 
   an abrasive wheel assembly configured to bevel the edge of the glass substrate as the glass substrate is moved by the abrasive wheel assembly in the glass feed direction by the glass transport system; and   an edge guide assembly located between the abrasive wheel assembly and the vacuum member comprising an upper edge guide member and a lower edge guide member spaced from the upper edge guide member to provide a path through which the glass substrate can travel.   
     
     
         28 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member includes rollers forming a dynamic support surface configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         29 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member comprises a bar of a material that is configured to contact the glass substrate. 
     
     
         30 . The glass edge finishing apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the upper edge guide member and the lower edge guide member comprises a belt assembly including a belt having a guide surface configured to contact the glass substrate.