Patent ID: 8899078
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
1. A stabilizing system for maintaining a horizontally bowed profile of a downward moving glass sheet in a downdraw glass forming process, said stabilizing system comprising: a first horizontally tilted edge guide roll pair and an opposing second horizontally tilted edge guide roll pair that only contact edge portions of the glass sheet without contacting a central portion of the glass sheet, wherein a first edge portion of the bowed glass sheet is drawn between the first edge guide roll pair and an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between the second edge guide roll pair; and wherein the first edge guide roll pair is horizontally tilted to have an orientation similar to the first edge portion of the bowed glass sheet and the second edge guide roll pair is horizontally tilted to have an orientation similar to the second edge portion of the bowed glass sheet so as to reinforce the bowed profile of the bowed glass sheet and thereby stabilize the position and shape of the glass sheet during the downdraw glass forming process.