JP3286591B2 - Glass forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glass forming apparatus for arranging glass between an upper mold and a lower mold attached to a frame and molding the arranged glass between the upper mold and the lower mold. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for forming a glass substrate for a hard disk, for example, molten glass (gob) between an upper die and a lower die of a pressing device attached to a frame.
There has been known a glass forming apparatus in which the molten glass placed is press-formed with an upper die and a lower die.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the structure of an example of a conventional glass forming apparatus. In the example shown in FIG. 7, 71 is a base,
72 is a C-type frame attached to the base 71, 73 is an upper die, 74 is a forming cylinder provided on the upper part of the C-type frame 72 for driving the upper die 73, 75 is a lower die, and 76 are a plurality of eight here. A turntable 77 on which lower dies 75 are placed at equal intervals and positioned at each station; 77, an index motor for intermittently rotating the turntable 76;
Reference numeral 8 denotes a backup push-up cylinder provided at the lower portion of the C-shaped frame 73 for driving the lower die 75 at the molding station.

[0004] In the glass forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7, a gob supply station 79, a forming station 80, and a takeout station 8 are provided at respective positions, one example of which is shown in FIG.
1, the molten glass (gob) is dropped on the lower mold 75 at the gob supply station 79, and the gob on the lower mold 75 is press-molded with the upper mold 73 and the lower mold 75 at the molding station 80, and then taken out. A glass substrate taken out and molded at 81 is obtained.

In the above-described conventional glass forming apparatus, a plurality of lower dies 75 are provided on the turntable 76 in advance,
At the stage where each lower mold 75 was set in the molding station 80, the lower mold 75 was pushed up by the pushing cylinder 78, and at the same time, the upper mold 73 was pushed in by the molding cylinder 74, and was supplied onto the lower mold 75 at the gob supply station 79. Press molding the gob. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a lower mold 75 in a conventional glass forming apparatus. In the example shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 91 denotes a lower mold body; 92, a protruding portion projecting downward from the lower mold body 91; 93, a lower mold body receiving portion for placing the lower mold body fixed to the turntable 76 and guiding the protruding portion 92; Is a heater for heating the lower die body receiving portion 93.

[0006]

In the configuration of the lower die 75 in the above-described conventional glass forming apparatus, the lower die main body receiving portion 93 heated by the heater 94 has the protrusion 9 of the lower die main body 91.
Therefore, it is necessary to increase the clearance between the lower die body receiving portion 93 and the protruding portion 92 in consideration of the thermal expansion of both. As a result, because the clearance of this portion is large, when the lower mold main body 91 is pushed up by the push-up cylinder 78 at the molding station, the lower mold main body 91 is inclined, and the positioning of the lower mold 55 with respect to the upper mold 73 is accurately performed. There was a problem that could not be done. As described above, if the upper mold 73 and the lower mold 75 cannot be aligned, a thin glass substrate having an accurate shape cannot be obtained.
There was a problem that the subsequent polishing load became large. Further, in order to obtain a glass molded body having a shape close to the final shape, if it is attempted to form the chamfered portion of the glass substrate by a single molding, the positional mismatch between the upper mold 73 and the lower mold 75 becomes a problem. Therefore, the above objectives could not be achieved.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a glass forming apparatus which can position a lower mold of the forming apparatus with respect to an upper mold with high precision and can obtain a glass formed body having a shape close to the final shape without using means such as polishing.

[0008]

A glass forming apparatus according to the present invention arranges glass between an upper mold and a lower mold attached to a frame, and forms the arranged glass between the upper mold and the lower mold. In the glass forming apparatus, the lower mold comprises a lower mold receiving portion provided on a conveying means, a lower mold main body loosely fitted to the lower mold receiving portion, and a driving unit for driving the lower mold main body, Positioning and receiving the driving unit in the driving unit receiving unit provided in the lower die body, without being affected by the lower die receiving unit, the lower die main unit moves up and down with respect to the frame by driving the driving unit , Sa
Further, the transfer means is a ring-shaped turntable,
Electrodes are installed on the inner circumference of the ring-shaped turntable.
A ring-shaped slip ring is provided.
To the ring-shaped turntable via the electrode of the ring
It is characterized in that power is supplied to heaters provided for each lower mold .

According to the present invention, the structure of the lower die is constituted by a lower die receiving portion provided on the transport means, a lower die main body loosely fitted to the lower die receiving portion, and a driving portion for driving the lower die main body. Then, the drive unit is positioned and received in the drive unit receiving part provided in the lower die body, and the lower die body moves up and down with respect to the frame by driving the drive unit without being affected by the lower die receiver. By doing so, only the lower die main body can be moved up and down directly without the influence of the lower die receiving portion. In addition, since the vertical movement can be performed by a driving means such as a cylinder provided on the frame, the position of the lower mold with respect to the upper mold that moves up and down with respect to the frame in the molding process can be accurately held, and polishing and the like can be performed. It is possible to obtain a glass molded article having a shape close to the final shape without using the means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of an outline of an overall configuration of a glass forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the glass forming apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a base 2
A gate-shaped frame 3 erected on a base 2, an upper die 4 provided on the upper part of the frame 3, a plurality of lower dies 8 provided on a ring turntable 5 as a conveying means, Type 8
Is formed of a forming cylinder 6 for vertically moving the cylinder and a driving unit 7 at the tip thereof.

The upper mold 4 is configured to be movable up and down so that the setting position can be changed. However, the position does not change during the molding process and is fixed. A plurality of lower dies 8 are arranged at equal intervals on the ring turntable 5 here.
The ring turntable 5 is conveyed continuously to the gob supply station, the molding station, and the removal station by the intermittent motion of the ring turntable 5 as in the related art. Further, a rack gear 11 is formed on the inner periphery of the ring turntable 5, and the ring turntable 5 is rotated via the rack gear 11 by rotation of a pinion gear 13 attached to an index motor 12 on the base 2. The forming cylinder 6 is provided on both legs 3-1 and 3 of the frame 3.
-2 upper and lower guides 14-1, 14-2 respectively formed
It is fixed in between, and is configured to be able to move up and down the drive unit 7 at the tip of the frame 3, that is, the base 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the outline of the overall configuration of the glass forming apparatus of the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 2 differs from the example shown in FIG. 1 in that the configuration of the transporting means is different. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the two plates 21-1 and 21-2 are vertically arranged via the guide 22 and the actuator 23. Then, the lower mold 8 provided at the end of each of the plates 21-1 and 21-2 is
The notch 24 provided in each plate is used so that the gob supply station and the molding station can be alternately reciprocated by driving the actuator 23. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 1 and are denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the configuration of the lower die 8 in the glass forming apparatus 1 of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the lower die 8 drives a lower die receiving portion 31 provided on the ring turntable 5, a lower die main body 32 loosely fitted to the lower die receiving portion 31, and the lower die main body 32. And a drive unit 7 of the molding silling 6. And the lower mold body 32
The driving unit 7 is positioned and received in a driving unit receiving unit 33 provided on the lower surface of the device through an opening 34 formed in the ring turntable 5 and the lower die receiving unit 31.
For this reason, in the lower die 8 shown in FIG. 3, the lower die receiving portion 31 does not guide the lower die main body 32 during the vertical movement during molding, and the lower die receiving portion 31 does not serve as a reference for the vertical movement. Instead, the lower die body 32 can move up and down integrally with the drive unit 7 based on the frame 3, that is, the base 2. Reference numeral 35 denotes a heater provided on the lower die body 32.

A driving portion receiving portion 33 provided on the lower surface of the lower die body 32 has a concave portion 36 with a tapered side surface,
And a positioning hole 38 provided at the center of the bottom portion 37 of the base. The shape of the tip of the driving unit 7 is a tapered shape that fits into the concave portion 36 of the lower mold body 32,
It has a shape having a positioning projection 39 which engages with the second positioning hole 38. Therefore, only by driving the forming cylinder 6 and moving the drive unit 7 upward, the drive unit 7 and the drive unit receiving unit 33 can be connected in a positioned state, and by further moving upward, the lower mold main body 32 can be moved. Is the lower mold receiving part 3
The lower mold body 32 can be moved up and down with respect to the frame 3 without contacting the lower mold body 1 at all. Upper die 4 is direct frame 3
, Both the upper die 4 and the lower die 8 can move up and down with respect to the frame 3.

In the glass forming apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ring turntable 5 or the plate 21-
The lower mold main body 32 moves up and down with respect to the frame 3 by driving the driving unit 7 with the forming cylinder 6 without being affected by the lower mold receiving part 31 fixed to 1, 21-2. Therefore, the lower mold 8 does not tilt, and a highly accurate glass forming apparatus can be obtained. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, when the tip of the driving unit 7 is positioned and coupled to the driving unit receiving unit 33 provided on the lower surface of the lower die body 32, the ring turntable 5 or the plate 21-1 is used. , 21-2
Is preferable because the position of the lower die 8 with respect to the upper die 4 is always corrected to the same position even if the position is shifted due to thermal expansion or the like. When the frame 3 is formed in a gate shape, the lack of rigidity and unevenness of thermal deformation in the case of the conventional C-shaped frame can be eliminated, and a highly rigid and more accurate glass forming apparatus can be obtained, which is preferable. Further, in a case where the forming operation is performed by fixing the upper mold 4 and raising the lower mold 8 by the forming cylinder 6 arranged on the lower side of the frame 3, the pressing force is smoothly increased to reduce the glass. This is preferable because heat radiation can be reduced.

Next, the transfer means is a ring turntable 5
A preferred example of the structure of the inner peripheral slip ring and the structure of the ring turntable 5 will be described as a preferred example in the case of the above.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining one configuration of the inner peripheral slip ring in the glass forming apparatus of the present invention.
In the example shown in FIG. 4, in the vicinity of the inner periphery of the ring turntable 5, a ring-shaped slip ring 41 having an electrode protruding upward and provided on the inner periphery thereof is provided. Power is supplied to the heater 35 provided in the lower die receiving portion 31 for each lower die 8 on the table 5. The electrode on the inner circumference of the ring-shaped slip ring 41 is divided for each station, and a power supply section 42 is provided for each station.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the ring-shaped slip ring main body 4 made of an insulating material is used.
In this embodiment, a plurality of four electrodes 44 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped slip ring main body 43 so as to correspond to the four electrodes 44. 45 are formed for each station. The reason why the number of electrodes is four is that a total of four electrodes are required, two for power supply to the heater 35 and two for feedback control of the heater 353. Also, for each station,
A power supply section 42 is provided in which a carbon electrode 47 on which the brush section 46 of the four electrodes 44 slides is fixed using a mounting column 48 and a presser 49. In this example, the eight power supply units 42 are fixed, and the ring-shaped slip ring 41 rotates with the rotation of the ring turntable 5. The length of the carbon electrode 47 is increased according to the radius.

In the configuration of the inner peripheral slip ring shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a normal outer peripheral slip is utilized by using a ring turntable 5 in which the frame 3 is a gate type and has a space through which one leg passes. Even in the case of a combination in which a ring cannot be used, the power supply unit does not interfere with the forming apparatus. Further, in the above-described example, since the electrodes are divided for each station, an example in which four electrodes are required for each of eight stations as in a normal method, that is, 4 × 8 =
As compared with the example in which 32 electrodes are used over the entire circumference of the ring, the configuration can be simplified in that only four electrodes 44 are required. As a result, a compact power supply unit 42 can be realized.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining one configuration of the ring turntable 5 in the glass forming apparatus of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the ring turntable 5 is divided into a plurality of pieces, here four pieces, to form the divided table part 51, and the base 53 It is rotatably provided above.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6A, each of the divided table portions 51 is provided on each of the divided table portions 51 on the guide 54 for determining the inner rotational trajectory. And the outer peripheral portion of each divided table portion 51 is rotatably held by a pair of rollers 56 as a receiving portion for restraining the divided table portion 51 in the vertical direction.
Each divided table section 51 is fixed to an internal gear (rack gear) 57 that drives the ring turntable 5 composed of the divided table section 51. The guide 54 and the pair of rollers 56 are both fixed on the base 53.

In the ring turntable 5 having the above-described configuration, the internal gear 57 is driven by the drive gear (pinion gear) 58.
Is rotated, so that the base 53 is fixed and the ring turntable
Can be rotated on the guide 54.

The configuration of the ring turntable shown in FIG. 6 solves the problem that excessive force is applied to the guide portion due to thermal expansion when the ring turntable is formed as a single unit even when used in a heated state. This can be solved by providing the divided table portion 51 with the gap 52 therebetween, and the ring turntable 5 to which heat is applied can be configured without receiving excessive thermal stress.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the structure of the lower die is made up of the lower die receiving portion provided on the conveying means, and the lower die main body loosely fitted in the lower die receiving portion. And a drive unit for driving the lower mold body. The drive unit is positioned and received by a drive unit receiving unit provided on the lower mold body, and is driven by the drive unit without being affected by the lower mold receiving unit. Since the lower mold body is configured to move up and down with respect to the frame, only the lower mold body can be moved up and down directly without the influence of the lower mold receiving portion.
In addition, since the vertical movement can be performed by a driving means such as a cylinder provided on the frame, the position of the lower mold with respect to the upper mold that moves up and down with respect to the frame in the molding process can be accurately held, and polishing and the like can be performed. It is possible to obtain a glass molded article having a shape close to the final shape without using the means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an outline of an overall configuration of a glass forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the outline of the overall configuration of the glass forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration of an example of a lower mold in the glass forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining one configuration of an inner slip ring in the glass forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining details of each part of an inner peripheral slip ring.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining one configuration of a ring turntable in the glass forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a conventional glass forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining each station in a conventional glass forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a configuration of an example of a lower mold in a conventional glass forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Glass forming equipment, 2 bases, 3 frames, 3-
1,3-2 leg, 4 upper mold, 5 ring turntable, 6 forming cylinder, 7 drive unit, 8 lower mold, 11
Rack gear, 12 index motor, 13 pinion gear, 14-1, 14-2 vertical guide, 21-1,
21-2 plate, 22 guide, 23 actuator, 24 notch, 31 lower die receiving part, 32 lower die main body, 33 driving part receiving part, 34 opening, 35 heater,
36 recess, 37 bottom, 38 positioning hole, 39
Positioning protrusion, 41 Ring-shaped slip ring, 42
Power supply section, 43 ring-shaped slip ring main body, 44 electrodes, 45 terminals, 46 brush section, 47 carbon electrode, 48 mounting support, 49 retainer, 51 split table section, 52 gap, 53 base, 54 guide, 55
Bearing, 56 roller, 57 internal gear, 58
Drive gear

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Tabuchi 2-56, Suda-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Japan Insulator Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-5-286731 (JP, A) JP-A Sho 47-45405 (JP, A) JP-A-64-87524 (JP, A) JP-A-62-56326 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C03B 11/02 C03B 11/12

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A glass forming apparatus for placing glass between an upper mold and a lower mold attached to a frame and molding the placed glass between the upper mold and the lower mold, wherein the lower mold is conveyed. A lower mold receiving portion provided on the means, a lower mold main body loosely fitted to the lower mold receiving portion, and a driving portion for driving the lower die main body, and driven by a driving portion receiving portion provided on the lower die main body. The lower die body is configured to move up and down with respect to the frame by driving of the driving unit without being affected by the lower die receiving portion, and further, the transport means is a ring-shaped turntable.
And on the inner circumference of the ring-shaped turntable,
A ring-shaped slip ring provided with electrodes is provided.
Ring-shaped turn ring through the electrode of the ring-shaped slip ring.
A glass forming apparatus characterized in that power is supplied to heaters provided for each lower mold in a table . 2. The glass forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame is of a portal type. Wherein the drive of the drive unit, also claim 1 carried out at a cylinder attached to the lower side of the frame of the lower die
Is the glass forming apparatus according to 2 . 4. A lower surface of the lower mold body is formed by a concave portion having a tapered side surface, and a positioning hole provided at a bottom of the concave portion. The glass forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the glass forming apparatus has a tapered shape that fits into the tapered concave portion and has a positioning projection that engages with a positioning hole of the lower mold body. 5. An electrode of the ring-shaped slip ring is divided for each station, a power supply section is provided for each station, and a carbon electrode of the power supply section is brought into contact with an electrode of the ring-shaped slip ring. Item 3. The glass forming apparatus according to Item 1 . 6. divided into a plurality of the ring-shaped turntable formed with a plurality of division table unit, in any one of claims 1 and 3-5 a gap is provided between the divided dividing table unit The glass forming apparatus as described in the above. 7. The divided table part divided into a plurality of parts,
It is set via a bearing on a guide that determines the inner rotation trajectory, and its outer periphery is rotatably held by a receiving portion that restrains the vertical direction. 7. The glass forming apparatus according to claim 6, which is fixed to a tooth gear.