Patent ID: 8584489
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A method for isolating an upstream process from a downstream process while processing a web of brittle material, the method comprising: conveying the web of brittle material along a first pathway; directing the web of brittle material over an arcuate outer surface of a variable position web support plenum slidably positioned on a guide rail such that the web of brittle material is supported over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface of the variable position web support plenum and redirected from the first pathway to a second pathway, wherein changes in the upstream process, the downstream process or both the upstream process and the downstream process vary a displacement of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail; determining the displacement of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail; adjusting a process parameter of the upstream process, the downstream process, or process parameters of both the upstream process and the downstream process based on the displacement of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail to maintain a length of travel of the web of brittle material between the upstream and downstream processes and isolate the upstream process from the downstream process; wherein the web of brittle material is a ribbon of glass, the upstream process is a glass drawing process and the downstream process is a glass winding process.