TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a registering device for use with two cooperable hot glass sheet handling components.

BACKGROUND ART

Registration devices are used with hot glass sheet handling components such as glass sheet roller conveyors, glass sheet molds, glass sheet press rings and glass sheet quench rings to assure that these ^' components are properly aligned during hot glass sheet working. These devices allow • for accurate processing of the hot glass sheet and a high yield of quality glass product.

Registration devices are known to include a spade and slot arrangement whereby one glass sheet handling component has the spade mounted on it and the other cooperable glass sheet handling component has the slot mounted on it. The spade is received in the slot to thereby align the two components for hot glass sheet handling. This spade and slot registration means is insufficient for accurate hot glass sheet handling because of recurring friction between the spade and slot each time the handling apparatus is registered and separated.

After repeated registrations, wear on the spade arid slot create a loose fit and diminish accuracy of alignment of the glass handling

components. Also, the friction that occurs during registration necessitates that when two or more registration devices are used together with a pair of handling components, lesser tolerances than acceptable for processing a quality- product must be used to assure registration of the registration devices given the thermal expansion and contraction of the components.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a registration device for use with two cooperable hot glass sheet handling components which provide an improvement in registration between the handling components during hot glass sheet _. handling.

In carrying out the above object and other objects of the invention, a registering device constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a first registering member on one of said handling component and a second regis¬ tering member on the other component. The regis- tering members are movable toward one another in a direction of registration. One of the registering members includes rotatable antifriction elements for engaging the other registering member with rolling contact to provide registration between the handling components during hot glass sheet hand¬ ling.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotatable antifriction elements comprise at least one pair of rollers rotatably mounted about roller axes extending in a

perpendicular direction to the direction of regis¬ tration. These rollers have an elongated shape and oppose each other. In this arrangement, the first registering member is adjustably aligned with the second registering member along a major axis extending between and parallel to the roller axis and also is ccnfiningly registered along a minor axis. The major and minor axes are perpendicular to each other and both major and minor axes are perpendicular to the direction of registration.

Alternatively, the rotatable antifriction elements comprises two pairs of opposed rollers rotatably mounted about two pairs of perpendicular- ly extending roller axes. These roller axes are perpendicular to each other and also are perpen¬ dicular to the direction of registration for confiningly registering the first and second members about the direction of registration.

Preferably, the registering device includes first and second connectors for respec¬ tively mounting the first and second registering members to the pair of handling components. Preferably, the connectors include threaded fasten¬ ers together with elongated slot and bolt con¬ nections that provide adjustable mounting of the first and second members on the handling compo¬ nents. Most preferably, the registering device includes a base plate and a positioning bolt for adjusting the alignment of the handling components when registered.

The above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed

description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accom¬ panying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a registering device constructed in accordance with the present invention illustrating first and second registering members;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the second registering member illustrating elongated rollers and an adjustable mount;

Figure 3 is a side view of the second registering member shown in engagement with the first registering member;

Figure 4 is a plan view ^* of a preferable adjustable mount for the registering device; v

Figure 5 is a plan view of two second registering members mounted in an assembly arrange- men ;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of three registering devices illustrated in a linear assem¬ bly arrangement; and

Figure 7 is a schematic view of three registration devices illustrated in a non linear assembly arrangement.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a registering device constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 and is used with two cooper- able hot glass sheet handling components 12 and 14 representatively shown in phantom. These cooper¬ able hot glass sheet handling components 12,14 include but are not limited to roller conveyors, forming molds, press rings and quench rings. As is hereinafter more fully described, the registering device 10 provides alignment of the cooperable hot glass sheet handling components 12,14 as the components are moved toward and engaged with each other for hot glass sheet handling.

As shown in Figure .1, the registering device 10 comprises a first registering member 16 on one of the handling components 12 and a second registering member 18 mounted on the other handling component 14. The registering members 16,18 are movable toward one another in a direction of registration indicated by arrows labeled A,A'. One of the registering members 16,18, shown here as the second registering member 18, includes rotatable antifriction elements 20 for engaging the other registering member with rolling contact to provide registration between the handling components 12,14 to assure proper alignment during hot glass sheet handling.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the second registering member 18 of the registering device 10 in an engaged position with a registering projec¬ tion 22, shown in phantom, of the first registering

member 16. The registration projection 22 is shown here having a spike shape although any contour which provides registration can be used. The antifriction elements 20 shown are a pair of elongated rollers 24 rotatably mounted about roller axes B extending in a perpendicular direction to the direction of registration A, '. The elongated rollers 24, shown, oppose each other. This ar¬ rangement of elongated rollers 24 allows the first registering member 16 to be adjustably aligned with the second registering member 18 along a major axis C extending between and parallel to the roller axes B and also confines registration of the first registration member along a minor axis D. Major - axis C and axis minor D are perpendicular to each other and both axes also are perpendicular to the direction of registration A,A' . This adjustable alignment along the major axis C is desirable when two or more registering devices 10 ^" are used in combination and also when differe t expansion and contraction occurs to the handling components when handling the hot glass sheets. >

As seen in Figures 1, 2, and 3 , the registering device 10 includes first and second connectors 26,28 for respectively mounting the first and second registering members 16,18 to the pair of handling components 12,14. These connec¬ tors 26,28 include threaded fasteners 30. - Most preferably, the connectors comprise elongated slot 32 and bolt 34 connections that provide adjustable mounting of the first and second registering members 16,18 on the handling components 12,14, best seen in Figure 2. This adjustable mounting arrangement provides for easily adjustable align¬ ment to correct and maintain accuracy of

registration between the first and second regis¬ tering members 16,18 and result in increased accuracy of registering the handling components 12,14.

Figure 4 illustrates another mounting arrangement for mounting the registering members 16,18 to a pair of handling components. As illus¬ trated, the second registering member 18 further includes and is connected to a base plate 36 which is fastened to a handling component, not shown, by mechanical fasteners 37. The elongated rollers 24 are movable with respect to the base plate 36 through the combined features of the elongated slots 32 and a positioning bolt 38 which, as the bolt is rotated, adjusts the position of the rollers 24 relative to the base plate 36.

Figure 5 illustrates two dissimilar registering devices used together in an assembly including two registering devices 10,10'. The first registering device 10 as discussed above in¬ cludes a first registering member 16, shown in phantom on a handling component, not shown, and a second registering member 18 on the other component 42. Registering members 16,18 are movable toward one another in a direction of registration A,A'. The second registering member 18 of the first registering device 10 has a pair of opposed elon- gated rollers 24 rotatably mounted about roller axes B extending in a perpendicular direction to the direction of registration A,A' for engaging the other registering member 16 with rolling contact.

With continued reference to Figure 5, the second registering device 10' is spaced from the

first registering device 10 and includes a first registering member 16', shown in phantom on the handling component, not shown, and a second regis¬ tering member 18' on the other component 42. The registering members 16',18' are similarly movable toward one another in the direction of registration A,A' . The second registering member 18' of the second registering device 10' has two pair of opposed rollers 46 rotatably mounted about roller axes B' extending in a perpendicular direction to the direction of registration A,A' and also has one pair of the roller axis B ¹ extending perpendicular to the roller axes B of the first registering device 10 for engaging the other registering member 16' of the second registering device with rolling contact. The assembly of first and second regis¬ tering devices 10,10" allow the pair of handling components to be translationally registered for cooperative ^* glass ^* sheet handling while also allow- ing for expansion and contraction of the components that takes place with the increase and decrease of temperature. „

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate schematically how three registering devices 10 can be utilized to provide both translational and rotational registra¬ tion of a pair of glass sheet handling components for cooperative hot glass sheet handling. Three registering devices 10, previously discussed, are mounted in a spaced relationship on two cooperable hot glass sheet handling components. Each device 10 has a pair of opposed elongated rollers 24 rotatably mounted about roller axes B extending in a perpendicular direction to the direction of registration for engaging the other registering members with rolling contact. As shown, two of the

registration devices 10 have roller axes B extend¬ ing coincidentally with each other and the third device has roller axes extending perpendicular to the other two. In this, arrangement, the glass handling components are registerable about the intersection X of the axes E,F extending between and parallel to the roller axes B.

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.