Patent ID: 7290408
Filing Date: 2007-11-06
Classification: C03B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. An apparatus which supports a preform, said preform including a supporting core, the apparatus comprising: a rotation mechanism that rotates said supporting core of the preform about a horizontal axis; an adjustable support member; and a rotatable wheel mounted on said adjustable support member, wherein said rotatable wheel (1) has a rotational axis which is parallel to said supporting core, (2) is mounted to rotate freely, and (3) includes a tread strip which comes into tangential contact with said preform, wherein said adjustable support member is adjustable between a variable active end position in which said rotatable wheel is in contact with said preform, and an inactive end position in which said rotatable wheel is spaced apart from said preform, and said installation further comprises: a sensor that measures a preform characteristic indicative of a sag of said preform; and a servo-controller coupled to said sensor, said servo-controller adjusting said adjustable support member depending on said preform characteristic measured by said sensor.