Method and lift jet floatation system for shaping thin glass

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems for shaping a glass sheet comprising a roll conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers for conveying the glass sheet along a plane; a lift jet array comprising a plurality of nozzles, one or more of the plurality of nozzles comprising a tip having a plurality of orifices; and a shaping mold located above the roll conveyor, wherein the lift jet array is positioned below the roll conveyor such that each nozzle tip is located above the centerline of the plurality of rollers. Also disclosed herein are methods for shaping a glass sheet comprising heating the glass sheet and conveying the glass sheet on a roll conveyor to a position between the lift jet array and the shaping mold, wherein gas flows from the lift jet array with a force sufficient to lift the glass sheet from the roll conveyor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lift jet floatation system for shaping a glass sheet comprising:
 (a) a roll conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers for conveying the glass sheet along a plane, the plurality of rollers having a centerline substantially parallel to the plane;   (b) a lift jet array comprising a plurality of nozzles, one or more of the plurality of nozzles comprising a tip having a plurality of orifices; and   (c) a shaping mold;   wherein the roll conveyer is positioned substantially between the lift jet array and the shaping mold; and   wherein the lift jet array is positioned such that each nozzle tip is located above the centerline of the plurality of rollers.   
     
     
         2 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating means for softening the glass sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , wherein each nozzle comprises two or more orifices. 
     
     
         4 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , wherein each nozzle comprises six or more orifices. 
     
     
         5 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality nozzles in the array has a distribution of orifices different from an adjacent nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressurized gas source connected to the lift jet array, such that gas flows through each orifice of each nozzle in the lift jet array. 
     
     
         7 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaping mold comprises any one of:
 at least one surface for receiving and imparting a shape to the glass sheet; and   a plurality of orifices through which a vacuum is drawn.   
     
     
         8 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the nozzles is vertically adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The lift jet floatation system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift jet array is vertically adjustable without reducing temperature in a space surrounding the array. 
     
     
         10 . A method for shaping a glass sheet comprising:
 (a) conveying the glass sheet along a plane on a roll conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers having a centerline substantially parallel to the plane;   (b) heating the glass sheet;   (c) positioning the glass sheet on the roll conveyor between a shaping mold and a lift jet array; and   (d) lifting the glass structure from the roll conveyor by flowing a stream of gas from each orifice in the lift jet array,   wherein the lift jet array comprises a plurality of nozzles, one or more of the plurality of nozzles comprising a tip having a plurality of orifices,   wherein the lift jet array is positioned such that each nozzle tip is located above the centerline of the plurality of rollers, and   wherein the stream of gas flows with a force sufficient to lift the glass structure from the roll conveyor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the glass structure is heated to a temperature ranging from about 600° C. to about 800° C. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each nozzle comprises two or more orifices. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each nozzle comprises six or more orifices. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stream of gas flow provides a force sufficient to lift the glass structure from the roll conveyor into contact with the shaping mold. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the shaping mold comprises any one of:
 at least one surface for receiving and imparting a shape to the glass sheet; and   a plurality of orifices through which a vacuum is drawn, and wherein the gas flow from the lift jet array and the vacuum from the shaping mold provide a combined force sufficient to lift the glass sheet from the roll conveyor into contact with the shaping mold.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glass sheet has a thickness ranging from about 0.7 mm to about 1.5 mm or from about 0.3 to about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A system for lifting or shaping a glass sheet comprising:
 (a) a roll conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers for conveying the glass sheet along a plane, the plurality of rollers having a centerline substantially parallel to the plane; and   (b) an array of lift nozzles, each array comprising a plurality of nozzles, one or more of the plurality of nozzles comprising a tip having a plurality of orifices,   wherein each nozzle tip is located above the centerline of the plurality of rollers.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising a shaping mold positioned above the roll conveyer and array of lift nozzles. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein one or more lift nozzles in the array is vertically adjustable. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the array is vertically adjustable without reducing temperature in a space surrounding the array.