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Methods and apparatus provide for modification of a work-piece at elevated temperatures. A carrier may be provided and operable to support the work-piece. A support mechanism may be provided that is movable via gross translation between a retracted position such that a distal end thereof is away fro

Methods and apparatus provide for modification of a work-piece at elevated temperatures. A carrier may be provided and operable to support the work-piece. A support mechanism may be provided that is movable via gross translation between a retracted position such that a distal end thereof is away from the carrier, and an extended position such that the distal end thereof is at least proximate to the carrier. A work-piece modification system may be coupled to, and disposed proximate to, the distal end of the support mechanism, and operating to facilitate modifying the work-piece at an elevated temperature. A precision tuning mechanism may couple the work-piece modification system to the support mechanism, and may operate to provide fine adjustments to an orientation, and a distance, of the work-piece modification system relative to the work-piece.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus, comprising: a carrier operable to support a work-piece;a support mechanism being movable via translation between: (i) a retracted position such that a distal end thereof is away from the carrier, and (ii) an extended position such that the distal end thereof is at least proximate to

1. An apparatus, comprising: a carrier operable to support a work-piece;a support mechanism being movable via translation between: (i) a retracted position such that a distal end thereof is away from the carrier, and (ii) an extended position such that the distal end thereof is at least proximate to the carrier;a work-piece modification system coupled to, and disposed proximate to, the distal end of the support mechanism, and operating to facilitate modifying the work-piece at an elevated temperature, where the work-piece modification system is at least proximate to the work-piece when the support mechanism is in the extended position; anda precision tuning mechanism coupling the work-piece modification system to the support mechanism, and operating to provide fine adjustments to an orientation, and a distance, of the work-piece modification system relative to the work-piece,wherein the carrier operates to support the work-piece within a furnace having an ambient temperature at least above 300° C., andfurther comprising a plurality of controls outside the furnace, arranged to control the fine adjustments of the precision tuning mechanism are made via. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 for precisely bending a glass sheet as the work-piece, wherein: the carrier is operable to support the glass sheet in a planar orientation, such that an edge of the glass sheet overhangs a corresponding edge of the carrier;the work-piece modification system is a bending system coupled to, and disposed proximate to, the distal end of the support mechanism, and operating to facilitate bending the edge of the glass sheet about the edge of the carrier such that the bending system is at least proximate to the edge of the glass sheet when the support mechanism is in the extended position; andwherein the carrier is arranged to support the glass sheet within a furnace having an ambient temperature at least at an annealing temperature of the glass sheet. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the precision tuning mechanism includes: an X-direction adjustment mechanism operating to adjust a position of the bending system relative to the glass sheet in an X-direction, parallel to the glass sheet, wherein the X-direction adjustment mechanism includes:a base coupled to the support mechanism such that the base cannot move in the X-direction; anda translation block in sliding engagement with respect to the base and operating to move in the X-direction in response to translational force in the X-direction,wherein at least a portion of the bending system is mounted to the translation block. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the X-direction adjustment mechanism further includes: the base having first and second arms extending transversely with respect to one another, the first arm extending transversely from a proximal end of the translation block, and the second arm spaced apart from, and extending in a direction substantially parallel to, the translation block; anda plurality of spacer plates, each spacer plate having a first end coupled to the translation block and a second end coupled to the second arm of the base,wherein the first and second ends of each spacer plate includes a respective flexible web connecting such ends to the translation block and the second arm, respectively, and the spacer plates permit the translation block to slide in the X-direction in response to the translational force in the X-direction while maintaining the translation block in a parallel orientation with the second arm of the base,and optionally wherein the base, the translation block, and the spacer plates are all integrally formed of a single piece of material. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the X-direction adjustment mechanism further includes an X-direction movement limiting feature, comprising: a protrusion extending from one of the first arm of the base and the translation block; anda channel extending within the other of the first arm of the base and the translation block,wherein the protrusion moves within the channel in the X-direction and stops against respective opposing walls of the channel at respective maximum and minimum X-direction positions of the translation block. 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the X-direction adjustment mechanism further includes: a tube extending from a position near the proximal end of the translation block to a position outside the furnace;a push rod sliding within the tube in response to an X-direction one of the plurality of controls outside the furnace,wherein a distal end of the push rod is coupled to, and provides the translational force to, the proximal end of the translation block in response to the X-direction control outside the furnace. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the precision tuning mechanism includes: a Y-direction adjustment mechanism operating to adjust a position of the bending system relative to the glass sheet in Y-directions, perpendicular to the glass sheet, wherein the Y-direction adjustment mechanism includes:a fixed base rigidly coupled to the support mechanism;a lever rotationally coupled to the fixed base at a fulcrum and including an effort arm and a load arm, each extending from the fulcrum such that an effort force applied to a distal end of the effort arm causes rotation of the lever about the fulcrum and translational movement of a distal end of the load arm in the Y-direction; anda translation block coupled to the distal end of the load arm of the lever and operating to move in the Y-direction in response to the effort force,wherein at least a portion of the bending system is mounted to the translation block. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the Y-direction adjustment mechanism further comprises: the fixed base having first and second arms extending transversely with respect to one another;an intermediate member extending from the translation block in a direction parallel and spaced apart from the second arm of the fixed base, and coupling the translation block to the distal end of the load arm; anda plurality of spacer plates, each spacer plate having a first end coupled to the second arm of the fixed base and a second end coupled to the intermediate member,wherein the first and second ends of each spacer plate includes a respective flexible web connecting such ends to the second arm of the fixed base and the intermediate member, respectively, and the spacer plates permit the intermediate member to slide in the Y-direction in response to the effort force while maintaining the intermediate member in a parallel orientation with the second arm of the fixed base;and optionally wherein the fixed base, the translation block, the intermediate member, and the spacer plates are all integrally formed of a single piece of material. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the Y-direction adjustment mechanism further includes an Y-direction movement limiting feature, comprising: a protrusion extending from one of the first arm of the fixed base and the intermediate member; anda channel extending within the other of the first arm of the fixed base and the intermediate member,wherein the protrusion moves within the channel in the Y-direction and stops against respective opposing walls of the channel at respective maximum and minimum Y-direction positions of the intermediate member. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the Y-direction adjustment mechanism further includes: a tube extending from a position proximate the distal end of the effort arm to a position outside the furnace;a push rod sliding within the tube in response to a Y-direction one of the plurality of controls outside the furnace,wherein a distal end of the push rod is coupled to, and provides the effort force to, the distal end of the effort arm of the lever in response to the Y-direction control. 11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the precision tuning mechanism includes an X and Y direction adjustment mechanism operating to adjust positions of the bending system relative to the glass sheet in an X-direction, parallel to the glass sheet, and a Y-direction, perpendicular to the glass sheet, wherein the X and Y direction adjustment mechanism includes: a fixed base rigidly coupled to the support mechanism;a lever rotationally coupled to the fixed base at a fulcrum and including an effort arm and a load arm, each extending from the fulcrum such that an effort force applied to a distal end of the effort arm causes rotation of the lever about the fulcrum and translational movement of a distal end of the load arm in the Y-direction;a moving base coupled to the distal end of the load arm such that the moving base: (i) moves in the Y-direction in response to the translational movement of the distal end of the load arm, and (ii) cannot move in the X-direction; anda translation block coupled to the moving base such that the translation block: (i) is in sliding engagement with the moving base in the X-direction and operates to move in the X-direction in response to a translational force in the X-direction, and (ii) is in fixed engagement with the moving base in the Y-direction and operates to move in the Y-direction along with the moving base in response to the translational movement of the distal end of the load arm,wherein the bending system is mounted to the translation block, and optionally wherein the X and Y direction adjustment mechanism further comprises:the fixed base having first and second arms extending transversely with respect to one another; andthe moving base having third and fourth arms extending transversely with respect to one another, wherein:the third arm of the moving base is coupled: (i) at a distal end to, and extends transversely from, a proximal end of the translation block in a direction substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, the second arm of the fixed base, and (ii) at a proximal end to the distal end of the load arm,the fourth arm of the moving base is spaced apart from, and extending in a direction substantially parallel to, the translation block;and further optionally wherein the X and Y direction adjustment mechanism further comprises an X and Y direction movement limiting feature, including:a first protrusion extending from one of the third arm of the movable base and the proximal end of the translation block;a first channel extending within the other of the third arm of the movable base and the translation block, wherein the first protrusion moves within the first channel in the X-direction and stops against respective opposing walls of the channel at respective maximum and minimum X-direction positions of the translation block;a second protrusion extending from one of the first arm of the fixed base and a proximal end of the third arm of the movable base; anda second channel extending within the other of the first arm of the fixed base and the proximal end of the third arm of the movable base, wherein the second protrusion moves within the second channel in the Y-direction and stops against respective opposing walls of the channel at respective maximum and minimum Y-direction positions of the third arm of the movable base. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the X and Y direction adjustment mechanism further comprises: a plurality of Y-direction spacer plates, each Y-direction spacer plate having a first end coupled to the second arm of the fixed base and a second end coupled to the third arm of the moving base, wherein the first and second ends of each of the Y-direction spacer plates includes a respective flexible web connecting such ends to the second arm of the fixed base and the third arm of the movable base, respectively, and the Y-direction spacer plates permit the third arm of the movable base to slide in the Y-direction in response to the translational movement of the distal end of the load arm in the Y-direction, while maintaining the third arm of the movable base in a parallel orientation with the second arm of the fixed base; anda plurality of X-direction spacer plates, each X-direction spacer plate having a first end coupled to the translation block and a second end coupled to the fourth arm of the moving base, wherein the first and second ends of each of the X-direction spacer plates includes a respective flexible web connecting such ends to the translation block and the fourth arm of the movable base, respectively, and the X-direction spacer plates permit the translation block to slide in the X-direction in response to the translational force in the X-direction while maintaining the translation block in a parallel orientation with the fourth arm of the movable base,and optionallywherein the fixed base, the moving base, the translation block, and the spacer plates are all integrally formed of a single piece of material. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: the support mechanism, including first and second lateral sides, each of the first and second lateral sides including a distal end located at the distal end of the support mechanism, such that the respective distal ends move between the retracted position and the extended position;a first X and Y direction adjustment mechanism disposed proximate to the distal end of the first lateral side of the support mechanism;a second X and Y direction adjustment mechanism disposed proximate to the distal end of the second lateral side of the support mechanism; andthe bending system including at least one elongate body coupled at a first end to a first translation block of the first X and Y direction adjustment mechanism, and coupled at a second end to a second translation block of the second X and Y direction adjustment mechanism, such that the elongate body extends at least between the first and second lateral sides of the support mechanism,wherein the precision tuning mechanism operates to provide fine adjustments to an orientation, and a distance, of each opposing end of the elongate body of the bending system relative to the glass sheet via the plurality of controls outside the furnaceand optionally, wherein the bending system includes at least one of:(i) an elongate localized heating element defined at least in part by the at least one elongate body, and operating to elevate a temperature of the glass sheet in a region near the edge of the carrier to a level between the annealing temperature and a softening temperature of the glass sheet when the support mechanism is in the extended position and the bending system is proximate to the edge of the carrier and the edge of the glass sheet; and(ii) an elongate pushing member defined at least in part by the at least one elongate body, and operating to press against and facilitate bending the glass sheet over the edge of the carrier when the support mechanism is in the extended position proximate to the edge of the carrier. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: the support mechanism, including first and second lateral sides, each of the first and second lateral sides including a distal end located at the distal end of the support mechanism, such that the respective distal ends move between the retracted position and the extended position;a first X and Y direction adjustment mechanism disposed proximate to the distal end of the first lateral side of the support mechanism;a second X and Y direction adjustment mechanism disposed proximate to the distal end of the second lateral side of the support mechanism;a third X and Y direction adjustment mechanism disposed proximate to the distal end of the first lateral side of the support mechanism;a fourth X and Y direction adjustment mechanism disposed proximate to the distal end of the second lateral side of the support mechanism;the bending system including at least first and second elongate bodies, where: (i) the first elongate body coupled at a first end to a first translation block of the first X and Y direction adjustment mechanism, and coupled at a second end to a second translation block of the second X and Y direction adjustment mechanism, such that the first elongate body extends at least between the first and second lateral sides of the support mechanism, and (ii) the second elongate body coupled at a first end to a third translation block of the third X and Y direction adjustment mechanism, and coupled at a second end to a fourth translation block of the fourth X and Y direction adjustment mechanism, such that the second elongate body extends at least between the first and second lateral sides of the support mechanism,wherein the precision tuning mechanism operates to provide fine adjustments to an orientation, and a distance, of each opposing end of the first elongate body, and each opposing end of the second elongate body, of the bending system relative to the glass sheet via the plurality of controls outside the furnace,and optionally wherein the bending system includes:(i) an elongate localized heating element defined at least in part by the first elongate body, and operating to elevate a temperature of the glass sheet in a region near the edge of the carrier to a level between the annealing temperature and a softening temperature of the glass sheet when the support mechanism is in the extended position and the bending system is proximate to the edge of the carrier and the edge of the glass sheet; and(ii) an elongate pushing member defined at least in part by the second elongate body, and operating to press against and facilitate bending the glass sheet over the edge of the carrier when the support mechanism is in the extended position proximate to the edge of the carrier. 15. A method for precisely bending a glass sheet, comprising: providing a carrier to support the glass sheet in a planar orientation, such that an edge of the glass sheet overhangs a corresponding edge of the carrier;providing a support mechanism movable via gross translation between: (i) a retracted position such that a distal end thereof is away from the edge of the carrier, and (ii) an extended position such that the distal end thereof is at least proximate to the edge of the carrier;providing a bending system coupled to, and disposed proximate to, the distal end of the support mechanism, and operating to facilitate bending the edge of the glass sheet about the edge of the carrier such that the bending system is at least proximate to the edge of the glass sheet when the support mechanism is in the extended position; andproviding a precision tuning mechanism coupling the bending system to the support mechanism, and operating to provide fine adjustments to an orientation, and a distance, of the bending system relative to the glass sheet,wherein the carrier operates to support the glass sheet within a furnace having an ambient temperature at least at an annealing temperature of the glass sheet, and the fine adjustments of the precision tuning mechanism are made via a plurality of controls outside the furnace at an ambient temperature substantially lower than that of the furnace.