Float Glass Thickness Scanner... the T&S RibbonScan Pro
In 1992, T&S introduced its first Ribbon Scan Pro automatic thickness scanner in the float glass industry. While this product has evolved through multiple iterations, the basic concept of scanning for thickness and then using this information to approve the glass for the downstream packing operations is the basis for the RibbonScan Pro line of thickness scanning equipment.
Since that time, the T&S RibbonScan Pro has qualified millions of square feet of glass used in both automotive and construction applications. This gage can handle the full range of float glass production, be it thin, thick, clear, or heavily tinted. Each RibbonScan Pro is custom designed and built for the specific application, and can make use of either laser-based or confocal sensing depending on the application.
The specific advantages of the RibbonScan Pro are centering on its role as a ware-room gage. These systems are placed in line in close proximity to the defect identification systems and used to qualify the glass for packing operations. They develop the thickness profile after the glass has cooled, when the dimensional stablility of the finished glass is assured.
The RibbonScan Pro is capable of capturing thickness data acurate to within .0001" at any point along the width of the ribbon, and can scan at rates of up to 20"/sec. The thickness profile is available as a graphic display anywhere in the plant in real time. The RibbonScan Pro is the best, most capable, and most tightly integrated gage of its type in the float glass market.