Patent GB-331927-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in glass-annealing leers
IPC: C03B25/08
Filed: 1929-04-13
Abstract: 331,927. Haddan, R., (Simplex Engineering Co.). April 13, 1929. Roller-way conveyers.- A roller-way leer for annealing glass sheets delivered by a forming device 10, 13 comprises a primary section in which the rollers are constantly driven in a forward direction, a. second or main section in which the rollers rotate alternately backwardly and forwardly, and, between these two sections, a transfer section the rollers of which are rotated alternately in synchronism with those of the primary and main sections. The rollers of the main section, and those of the transfer section when rotating in synchronism therewith, are rotated for a longer period forwardly than rearwardly to effect a gradual advance of the sheets through the leer. At the discharge end of the leer the sheets pass over idler rollers 21 on to a series of rollers 22 driven through worm gearing 84, 85 from a motor 64 the current supply to which is controlled by a hand-operated switch 86. To enable the sheet to be withdrawn laterally from the roller 22 there is provided a lifting mechanism comprising parallel bars 87 carrying rollers 88 and adapted to be raised by plungers 89 which are operated through a system of interconnected bell-crank levers 90 bv a motor 92. The driving mechanism for the rollers 17 comprises a series of shafts 51 each having a number of worms 48 meshing with gear-wheels 47 on the rollers and being fitted with a pinion 52 operated by a chain 52<a> which passes over sprockets 53, 54 carried bv a main shaft 55 and a countershaft 56 respectively. The main shaft 55 extends the entire length of the leer and is motor driven, a plurality of motors 59, Fig. 15, being provided to permit repairs to be effected without interfering with the operation of the leer. The primary set of rollers is actuated direct from the main shaft 55, but in the case of both the main and transfer roller clutches 58, 58a are provided in order that the sprockets 53, 54 may be connected in turn with their respective shafts to effect the alternate forward and reverse movements. The clutches 58, 58a are actuated bv solenoids 57 which receive current from a main supply, switching arrangements, operated by the passage of the sheets themselves through the leer, being provided for energizing and de-energizing the solenoids of the transfer rollers at the appropriate intervals to synchronize these rollers with those of the primary and main sections. A manuallycontrolled timing-device, with its associated circuits, is provided so that the operation of each section of the conveyer mav be individually controlled, this arrangement permitting, for example, the rollers to be actuated in any desired manner to prevent damage by a broken sheet. The rollers 17 are individually removable and also arranged in sections any one of which can be withdrawn without disturbing the others. Fig. 5 shows the construction of one of the rollers 17 of the high-temperature section, those in the low temperature section being similarly mounted but formed without the tapered end portions 37. The ends 36 of the roller are carried by removable bearing-blocks 38 secured to the leer frame by bolts 39, these blocks being adjustable by means of tension bolts 41 and compression bolts 43 engaging the inside and outside respectively of the leer casing. By means of this adjustment the rollers themselves may be given a tensioning stress which tends to elevate their central portions and prevent sagging.