General description

Based on the comparison of planned arrangement of feed rollers (a total of three (3) proposals), the features of roller transport system have been explained.This case study will help increase the practical skills to select appropriate drive systems for the required considerations for mechanical design of transfer systems.

Explanation

1)Application to mechanical design of roller transport system

The roller transport system is configured with feed rollers and other mechanical sections. This session explains a total of three (3) plans for arrangement of feed rollers (Fig.1).

Plan A): Two (2)-rows independent arrangement of feed rollers (Fig.1-a)
・If glass substrates vary greatly in deflection or O-rings are worn partially or unevenly, poor or inconsistent contact between substrates and rollers can result, leading to possible curved transport.
・In the designing of roller materials and diameters, consideration may be given so as to make the feed rollers at the respective ends serve as main rollers and the feed rollers in the middle act as sub rollers, thereby ensuring stable transfer.

Plan B): Three (3)-rows independent arrangement of feed rollers (Fig.1-b)
・In order to minimize the effects of deflection of thin substrates in Plan A), the substrates are supported and transferred on the rollers arranged in 3 rows.
・By installing rubber-made O-rings on the outer circumference of rollers to transmit the frictional force, increased and stabilized friction coefficient and enhanced ease of maintenance are expected.

Plan C): Three (3)-rows arrangement of feed rollers connected through one ring (Fig.1-c)
・This Plan can involve the following problems: Direct susceptibility to any differences (related to friction coefficient) between the three (3) O-rings in contact with the substrates, increased parts processing cost, and/or increased person-hours for assembling and/or maintenance for stabilized tension of O-rings.

Among the 3 Plans, the Plan shown in Fig.1-b is more favorable for transfer of glass substrates of reduced thickness and weight.The next session explains the capability of transfer in a straight flow using the mechanical design based on Plan B.