A support apparatus can comprise a cylindrical rod extending along a first rotation axis and comprising a first end portion provided with a first convex spherical segment and a second end portion provided with a second convex spherical segment. A first area can be configured to receive a portion of the first convex spherical segment. A second area can be configured to receive a portion of the second convex spherical segment. The cylindrical rod can be pivotable about a first pivot axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis. In some embodiments, methods of supporting an object can comprise engaging a surface of the object with the outer surface of the cylindrical rod wherein the first cylindrical rod supports a weight of the object while the first cylindrical rod is supported by the first fluid cushion and the second fluid cushion.

The present disclosure relates to a rotary transition section and a tempering and forming apparatus for forming bent glass. The rotary transition section includes a main rack and an auxiliary rack. A plurality of flexible shaft rollers for forming glass are arranged at intervals on the auxiliary rack along the glass conveying direction. An end of the auxiliary rack that is closer to a heating furnace is rotatably connected to the main rack. An end of the auxiliary rack that is away from the heating furnace is connected to a traction mechanism arranged on the main rack. In the tempering and forming apparatus employing the rotary transition section, a forming and tempering section has a lifting function to achieve abutment against a roller surface after the rotation of the transition section, which in turn solves the technical problem that the edge of the glass is difficult to form.

A support apparatus can comprise a cylindrical rod extending along a first rotation axis and comprising a first end portion provided with a first convex spherical segment and a second end portion provided with a second convex spherical segment. A first area can be configured to receive a portion of the first convex spherical segment. A second area can be configured to receive a portion of the second convex spherical segment. The cylindrical rod can be pivotable about a first pivot axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis. In some embodiments, methods of supporting an object can comprise engaging a surface of the object with the outer surface of the cylindrical rod wherein the first cylindrical rod supports a weight of the object while the first cylindrical rod is supported by the first fluid cushion and the second fluid cushion.

A manufacturing system is disclosed including a conveying apparatus with a plurality of rollers that form a travel path along which a ribbon is configured to be conveyed in a travel direction. The plurality of rollers including at least a tensioning roller having a shaft and a rotation wheel with a plurality of spokes that extend radially outward from the shaft, the plurality of spokes being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the shaft to cause the ribbon to be conveyed in the travel direction. The manufacturing system further including a flow generator configured to direct a flow of fluid to the plurality of spokes to cause rotation of the plurality of spokes.

A glass heating furnace is illustrated. Rollers of the glass heating furnace are pivotally connected to a movable frame, and a roller driver of the glass heating furnace controls the rollers to rotate to a direction of an X axis, and a movable frame driver controls the movable frame to displace reciprocatively along a Y axis, such that the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time. The glass displaces reciprocatively in multiple directions to be heated up more uniformly, which effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass. Since the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time, the glass on the rollers does not have the displacement of the Y axis in respect to the rollers, such that friction of the displacement of the glass is reduced, which more effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass.

A glass sheet processing system for processing a glass sheet includes a conveyor for conveying the glass sheet in a direction of conveyance, and a positioning apparatus for adjusting position of the glass sheet on the conveyor. The positioning apparatus includes a movable carriage having first and second carriage bodies. The first carriage body is translatable in the direction of conveyance, and the second carriage body is supported by the first carriage body such that the second carriage body is movable in a direction generally transverse to the direction of conveyance. The positioning apparatus further includes a first drive assembly for moving the first carriage body in the direction of conveyance, a second drive assembly for moving the second carriage body with respect to the first carriage body, and a positioner member connected to the second carriage body for contacting the glass sheet to adjust position of the glass sheet.

A glass sheet processing system for processing a glass sheet includes a conveyor for conveying the glass sheet in a direction of conveyance, and a positioning apparatus for adjusting position of the glass sheet on the conveyor. The positioning apparatus includes a movable carriage having first and second carriage bodies. The first carriage body is translatable in the direction of conveyance, and the second carriage body is supported by the first carriage body such that the second carriage body is movable in a direction generally transverse to the direction of conveyance. The positioning apparatus further includes a first drive assembly for moving the first carriage body in the direction of conveyance, a second drive assembly for moving the second carriage body with respect to the first carriage body, and a positioner member connected to the second carriage body for contacting the glass sheet to adjust position of the glass sheet.

A glass heating furnace is illustrated. Rollers of the glass heating furnace are pivotally connected to a movable frame, and a roller driver of the glass heating furnace controls the rollers to rotate to a direction of an X axis, and a movable frame driver controls the movable frame to displace reciprocatively along a Y axis, such that the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time. The glass displaces reciprocatively in multiple directions to be heated up more uniformly, which effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass. Since the rollers displace along the Y axis at the same time, the glass on the rollers does not have the displacement of the Y axis in respect to the rollers, such that friction of the displacement of the glass is reduced, which more effectively reduces formation of the thermal stress marks on the glass.

Disclosed in the present invention is an apparatus for eliminating stress spots on a surface of glass, comprising a conveying assembly, provided with a conveying surface for reciprocally conveying the glass along a conveying direction; an upper air-blowing assembly, provided above the conveying surface, used for guiding air to reciprocally flow above the conveying surface along a swinging direction extending along a width direction of the glass; and a lower air-blowing assembly, provided under the conveying surface, used for guiding air to reciprocally flow under the conveying surface along the swinging direction. A method for eliminating stress spots on a surface of glass comprises a conveying step, a glass swinging step, and an air-cooling step.

A method of manufacturing a glass roll, includes: a forming step (S1) of forming, while conveying a glass film, the glass film by a downdraw method; a temporary rolling step (S3) of rolling the glass film while superposing a protective film on the glass film at a downstream end of a path of the conveying in the forming step (S1), to thereby manufacture a source glass roll; and a main rolling step (S4) of unrolling, while conveying the glass film to a downstream side, the glass film from the source glass roll, and then rerolling the glass film while superposing a protective film on the glass film at a downstream end of a path of the conveying, to thereby manufacture a glass roll. Higher tension in a rolling direction is applied to the glass film in the main rolling step (S4) than in the temporary rolling step (S3).