TW201808526A - Glass sheet manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

This glass sheet manufacturing method comprises: an end face machining step S3 for machining the end face of a glass sheet G using an end face machining device 3, which comprises a surface plate 16 for securing the glass sheet G, and machining tools 17a, 17b; and a transportation step for transporting the glass sheet G on or off the surface plate 16 along a predetermined transportation direction using a transportation device 2. The end face machining step S3 comprises a surface plate cleaning step S36 for cleaning the surface plate 16 using a surface plate cleaning device 20 disposed above the surface plate 16. In the surface plate cleaning step S36, the surface plate 16 is cleaned by the surface plate cleaning device 20 during the interval from when the end face machining on the glass sheet G fixed to the surface plate 16 is completed by the machining tools 17a, 17b, and the glass sheet G is transported out, to when a new glass sheet G to be machined is secured to the surface plate 16.

Description

Manufacturing method of flat glass

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing flat glass whose end surface is processed.

When manufacturing flat glass for flat panel displays (FPD) such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma displays (PDPs), and organic EL displays (OLEDs), for example, they are large-sized glass formed by a forming method such as a down-draw method. The glass substrate is cut and formed into flat glass of a predetermined size. Specifically, for example, a glass substrate is cut with a scribing wheel such as a diamond cutter to form flat glass.

When the glass substrate is cut to form flat glass, minute cracks with a depth of several μm to 100 μm are formed on the cut surface (end surface). This crack causes a reduction in the mechanical strength of the flat glass. Therefore, the end surface of the flat glass is processed to remove it. That is, in order to improve the mechanical strength of the flat glass, prevent cracking and defects of the flat glass, and facilitate the handling of the subsequent steps, the end surface of the flat glass is subjected to grinding (chamfering) and polishing.

Patent Document 1 discloses a manufacturing apparatus for flat glass It is provided with a cutting machine for forming a cutting line (scribing line) on a glass ribbon formed into a strip shape, a folding machine for breaking the glass ribbon along the cutting line, and a method for grinding the end surface of the flat glass after breaking. Beveling device.

The chamfering device of this manufacturing apparatus includes a fixed plate (stage) capable of attracting flat glass, a laser displacement meter for measuring the position of the end face of the flat glass, and a grinding wheel for chamfering. The chamfering device uses a laser shift meter (non-contact sensor) to obtain the position information of the end face of the flat glass that is sucked and fixed to the fixed plate, and executes the position control of the chamfering wheel based on the position information. In this way, the chamfering device can perform chamfering without positioning the flat glass.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-110648

The chamfering device of the conventional manufacturing device is to process the end surface by a chamfering wheel under the condition that the flat glass is adsorbed and fixed on the fixed plate. Residue on the plate. In this case, if a new flat glass to be chamfered is fixed to a fixed plate, the foreign matter may adhere to the flat glass and damage the flat glass, resulting in a reduction in product quality.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned matters, and a technical problem of the present invention is how to clean a platen and efficiently produce flat glass without foreign matter remaining.

The present invention has been developed to solve the above problems. The method for manufacturing flat glass of the present invention includes an end surface processing step and a conveying step. In this end surface processing step, a fixing plate and a processing tool for fixing the flat glass are used. The end surface processing device processes the end surface of the flat glass. The conveying step is to carry the flat glass into or out of the fixed plate by a conveying device along a predetermined conveying direction. It is provided with a plate washing step. The plate washing step is to clean the plate by a plate washing device disposed above the plate. The plate washing step is to fix the plate to the plate. After the end surface processing of the plate glass by the processing tool is completed, the period from when the plate glass is removed from the platen by the conveying device to when the new plate glass for processing is transferred to the platen and fixed , Using the aforementioned plate cleaning device to clean the plate.

As described above, the plate cleaning step is performed by the plate cleaning device during the period from when the processed flat glass is removed from the plate to the time when the new plate glass for processing is fixed to the plate. . In this way, the cleaning of the fixed plate can be performed without hindering the end surface processing step, and the tact time for manufacturing flat glass is not prolonged. Therefore, a sheet glass can be manufactured efficiently.

In the method for manufacturing a sheet glass of the present invention, it is preferred that the platen cleaning device includes a nozzle for discharging a cleaning liquid toward the platen, And a cleaning brush that can contact the fixed plate, and the fixed plate cleaning step is to allow the cleaning brush to contact the fixed plate and move while rotating, and spit the cleaning liquid toward the fixed plate through the nozzle While moving it with the washing brush, the washing plate is washed, and the washing brush is retracted from the washing plate after washing.

In this way, in the cleaning step of the plate, the cleaning brush is brought into contact with the plate and moved while rotating, so that the foreign matter attached to the plate is separated, and the cleaning liquid is ejected toward the plate from the nozzle, so that The foreign matter is flushed surely. In the plate cleaning step, the cleaning brush is retracted from the plate after the cleaning is completed. Therefore, when a new flat glass is carried into the plate, the cleaning brush does not become an obstacle.

In the method for manufacturing a sheet glass of the present invention, it is preferable that the nozzle discharges a cleaning solution toward the upper surface of the sheet glass before the sheet glass is processed by the processing tool. In this way, foreign matter that has been attached to the flat glass can be washed, and glass frit generated by processing by a processing tool can be prevented from adhering to the upper surface of the flat glass.

In the method for producing a sheet glass of the present invention, the processing tool may be configured to process an end surface of the sheet glass while moving in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the sheet glass. In this manner, the end surface of the flat glass can be efficiently processed.

In the manufacturing method of the flat glass of this invention, it is preferable that the said washing brush moves in the same direction as the said carrying direction of the said flat glass, and rotates in the direction opposite to the said carrying direction. In this way, the plate can be cleaned efficiently.

In the manufacturing method of the flat glass of the present invention, it is preferable that the fixed plate is composed of a plurality of members, the conveying device is provided with a conveying belt disposed between the plurality of members, and the cleaning brush is configured not to be in contact with the conveying device. The belt is in contact with only the aforementioned members. In this way, the cleaning brush is brought into contact with the fixed plate only, and the fixed plate can be cleaned quickly and surely without hindering the conveying step.

According to the present invention, a plate glass can be cleaned and a plate glass can be efficiently manufactured without foreign matter remaining.

2‧‧‧ transport device

3‧‧‧face machining device

6‧‧‧ transport belt

16‧‧‧ fixed

16a‧‧‧Fixed components

16b‧‧‧Fixed components

16c‧‧‧Fixed components

16d‧‧‧Fixed components

17a‧‧‧Processing tools

17b‧‧‧Processing tools

20‧‧‧ fixed plate washing device

30‧‧‧ spray nozzle

31‧‧‧washing brush

G‧‧‧ flat glass

S3‧‧‧End face processing steps

S36‧‧‧Cleaning steps

FIG. 1 is a side view of the manufacturing apparatus of the flat glass of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a manufacturing apparatus for flat glass.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the end surface processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method of manufacturing flat glass.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing steps of processing an end surface of a flat glass.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a manufacturing apparatus showing a part of an end surface processing step of flat glass.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a manufacturing apparatus showing a part of an end surface processing step of flat glass.

FIG. 9 shows the manufacturing of a part of the end surface processing steps of flat glass Side view of the appliance.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the end surface processing apparatus showing a part of the end surface processing steps of the flat glass.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the end surface processing apparatus showing a part of the end surface processing steps of the flat glass.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the end surface processing apparatus showing a part of the end surface processing steps of the flat glass.

Hereinafter, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 13 show one embodiment of a method and a device for manufacturing a flat glass according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a conveying apparatus 2 that conveys flat glass G in a predetermined direction (conveying direction X), an end surface processing apparatus 3 that processes an end surface of the flat glass G, A cutting device 4 disposed upstream of the end surface processing device 3 and a cleaning device 5 disposed downstream of the end surface processing device 3.

The transfer device 2 transfers the flat glass G from the cutting device 4 to the end surface processing device 3, and then from the end surface processing device 3 to the cleaning device 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying device 2 moves the flat glass G to the first standby position WP1 and the processing on the downstream side of the first standby position WP1 by the end surface processing device 3 during the conveyance of the flat glass G. The processing position CP, and let the flat glass on the downstream side of the processing position CP G standby second standby position WP2. In addition, the conveyance device 2 stops the flat glass G at each position WP1, CP, WP2 in conjunction with a sensor (not shown).

The conveying device 2 includes a plurality of conveying belts 6 for conveying the flat glass G, a driving device 7 for conveying the flat glass G, a lifting device 8 for moving a part of the conveying belt 6 up and down, and holding the flat glass G at a predetermined position.之 住 装置 9。 Holding device 9.

The conveying belt 6 is made of an elastic body such as rubber in an endless shape, and is driven by the driving device 7 to move the flat glass G placed on the upper portion thereof. In this embodiment, although three conveying belts 6 are exemplified, the number of the conveying belts 6 is not limited to this, and can be appropriately set according to the size of the flat glass G. Each conveying belt 6 is arrange | positioned at equal intervals.

The drive device 7 includes a plurality of pulleys 10 around which the conveyance belt 6 is wound, and a motor (not shown) for driving the pulleys 10. The driving device 7 is not limited to the above-mentioned pulley 10, and the driving belt 6 can be driven by various driving bodies such as a sprocket.

The lifting device 8 includes a guide member 11 for guiding the conveyance belt 6 and an actuator 12 for moving the guide member 11 up and down. The guide member 11 may be composed of, for example, a synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide member 11 has a groove portion 11 a for guiding the conveyance belt 6. The actuator 12 is constituted by a cylinder device, but is not limited thereto. The actuator 12 can change the position of the guide member 11 into a standby position and a position higher than the standby position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the holding device 9 is configured to correspond to a flat surface. The second standby position WP2 of the sheet glass G. The holding device 9 includes a plurality of holding members 13 capable of holding the sheet glass G, and an actuator 14 for raising and lowering each holding member 13.

The holding member 13 is a metal rod-shaped member configured as a long hollow. The width of the holding member 13 is set to be smaller than the interval between the respective conveying belts 6. In this way, the holding member 13 can be moved between the conveying belts 6 in the vertical direction. The holding member 13 is filled with a liquid such as water, but it is not limited to this, and a gas-liquid mixed fluid obtained by mixing a gas and a liquid may be filled. The holding member 13 has a hole 15 for discharging the liquid to the outside.

The end surface processing device 3 is arranged so as to correspond to the processing position CP of the flat glass G set by the conveying device 2. In this embodiment, the end surface processing device 3 is an example of a grinding device for chamfering the end surface of the flat glass G, but it is not limited to this, and includes a grinding device for grinding the end surface of the flat glass G.

The end surface processing device 3 is provided with a fixed plate 16 on which the flat glass G is placed, processing tools 17a, 17b, a positioning device 18 for positioning the flat glass G, and a displacement sensor 19a for measuring the position of the end surface of the flat glass G 19c, and a plate cleaning device 20 for cleaning the plate 16.

The fixing plate 16 is divided into a plurality of members (four in the illustration) 16a to 16d. As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, each of the members 16 a to 16 d is configured in a long shape and is arranged in parallel at a certain interval. In this way, a space (walking path) through which the conveying belt 6 passes is formed between each of the members 16a to 16d. path).

Each of the members 16a to 16d is a hollow rod-shaped member. A gas-liquid mixed fluid ML that is a mixture of a gas (for example, air) and a liquid (for example, water) is filled in each of the members 16a to 16d. Further, a support portion 21 for supporting the lower surface of the flat glass G is provided on the upper surface of each of the members 16a to 16d. The support portion 21 is formed in a long shape and is made of an elastic body such as rubber. The support portion 21 includes a hole 22 for discharging the gas-liquid mixed fluid ML filled in each of the members 16a to 16d. In addition, a through hole 23 is formed on the upper surface of each of the members 16a to 16d and penetrates the inside and outside of the members 16a to 16d.

Each of the members 16a to 16d is connected to a suction device and a pressure feeding device (not shown). By the action of the suction device, each of the members 16 a to 16 d passes through the holes 22 and the through holes 23 of the support portion 21 and adsorbs the plate glass G placed on the support portion 21. That is, the holes 22 and the through holes 23 of the respective members 16 a to 16 d function as a fixing portion that fixes the flat glass G to the support portion 21. In addition, by the action of the pressure feeding device, the holes 22 and the through holes 23 discharge the gas-liquid mixed fluid ML filled in the members 16a to 16d toward the support portion 21 side.

The processing tools 17a and 17b are constituted by a grinding tool (grinding wheel) such as a diamond grinding wheel. As shown in FIG. 2, the processing tools 17a and 17b include a processing tool 17a for processing the end surface of one side G1 and an end surface of the other side G2 for processing the end surfaces of the two sides G1 and G2 of the flat glass G. Processing tool 17b for processing. Each processing tool 17a, 17b faces from one end of each side G1, G2 while rotating The other end is moved linearly (as shown by the solid line and the two-dot chain line), whereby the end faces of the sides G1, G2 of the sheet glass G are ground (chamfered) over the entire length. The linear movement of each processing tool 17a, 17b is performed using a linear motion guide, for example, However, It is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 2, the positioning device 18 includes two pressing members 24 a and 24 b that can abut on the first side G1 of the rectangular plate glass G placed on the support portion 21 of the fixed plate 16. Two blocking members 25a, 25b that abut on the second side G2 opposite to the first side G1, and one pressing member 24c that can abut on the third side G3 perpendicular to the first side G1 and the second side G2 One of the blocking members 25c that can abut on the fourth side G4 opposite to the third side G3.

In this case, each side G1 to G4 of the sheet glass G is located further outside than the outer peripheral edge of the fixed plate 16, and each of the pressing members 24 a to 24 c and each of the blocking members 25 a to 25 c are arranged more outward than the outer peripheral edge of the fixed plate 16 It is further outside than the four sides G1 to G4 of the sheet glass G. Therefore, the flat glass G is supported at three points by a total of three blocking members 25a to 25c, and is supported at three points by a total of three pressing members 24a to 24c.

The pressing members 24a to 24c and the blocking members 25a to 25c are configured to contact the flat glass G when positioning the flat glass G, and retreat from the flat glass G when positioning is completed.

Each of the pressing members 24a to 24c includes a circular abutting pressing body 26 that abuts each side G1, G3 corresponding to the flat glass G, and each of the abutting pressing bodies 26 is provided with a direction facing the flat glass G. The actuator 27 is a moving force in a direction where the sides G1 and G3 are orthogonal to each other.

The blocking members 25a to 25c include a cylindrical (or cylindrical) abutting blocking body 28 in which each side G2, G4 corresponding to the flat glass G abuts. The abutment stopper 28 is made of an elastic body, and is supported by a spring or an accumulating member 29 such as a fluid pressure cylinder. Therefore, each of the abutment barriers 28 can move together with the sheet glass G while maintaining the abutment of the sides G2 and G4 corresponding to the sheet glass G, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shift sensors 19 a to 19 c include two shift sensors 19 a that can abut the first side G1 of the flat glass G, and a second sensor 19 a that can abut the flat glass G. The two shift sensors 19b on the side G2 may be in contact with the one shift sensor 19c on the third side G3.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the displacement sensors 19 a to 19 c is a touch sensor, and each has a contact member that can abut against the corresponding side G1 to G3 of the flat glass G. Each of the displacement sensors 19a to 19c can compare the position data measured with the plate glass G and the reference value, and calculate the position shift amount of the plate glass G generated during the measurement.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plate cleaning device 20 is disposed above the plate 16. The fixed-plate cleaning device 20 includes a plurality of spray nozzles 30 that discharge cleaning liquid, and a plurality of cleaning brushes 31 that can contact the fixed plate 16. In order to individually discharge the cleaning liquid to each of the members 16a to 16d of the fixing plate 16, the number of the spray nozzles 30 is the same as the number of the members 16a to 16d and becomes four. Similarly, the number of the cleaning brushes 31 is the same as the number of the members 16a to 16d and becomes four. Each of the shower nozzles 30 and each of the cleaning brushes 31 are arranged separately from each other at a predetermined interval in the same manner as the members 16 a to 16 d of the fixed plate 16.

The shower nozzle 30 is configured to reciprocate along a conveyance direction X of the flat glass G and an opposite direction (hereinafter referred to as a "reverse conveyance direction") XR by a moving mechanism (not shown). Each of the shower nozzles 30 is arranged above the members 16 a to 16 d of the fixed plate 16 so as to face downward, and is configured to discharge a cleaning liquid composed of a liquid or a gas-liquid mixed fluid downward.

The cleaning brush 31 is similar to the shower nozzle 30 and is configured to reciprocate in the conveyance direction X and the reverse conveyance direction XR of the flat glass G by a moving mechanism. The cleaning brush 31 is moved at the same speed as the movement of the shower nozzle 30. The cleaning brush 31 is configured to be moved in the vertical direction by the actuator 32. That is, the cleaning brush 31 is configured to change the position to a retreat position higher than the fixed plate 16 and a cleaning position that descends from the retreated position and contacts the support portion 21 of the members 16a to 16d of the fixed plate 16. The cleaning brush 31 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown).

The cutting device 4 includes a scribing wheel such as a diamond cutter. The cutting device 4 scribes a glass substrate with the scribing wheel, breaks the glass substrate along the scribing line, and forms flat glass G having a predetermined size.

The cleaning device 5 includes a supply device for supplying a predetermined cleaning liquid to the plate glass G, and a rotatable cleaning head. The cleaning device 5 supplies the cleaning liquid to the flat glass G by the supply device, and the cleaning head is brought into contact with the surface of the flat glass G, and the foreign matter adhering to the flat glass G is removed by its rotation.

In the following, a flat plate is manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus 1 described above. The method of glass G is explained. As shown in FIG. 5, the manufacturing method of the sheet glass G of this embodiment is provided with the shaping | molding step S1, the cutting step S2, the end surface processing step S3, and the washing step S4. In addition, this method includes a conveying step of moving the flat glass G from the cutting device 4 to the end surface processing device 3 and then from the end surface processing device 3 to the cleaning device 5.

In the forming step S1, a known float method, roll forming method, orifice drawing method, redrawing method, or the like can be used, but the glass substrate is preferably formed by the overflow drawing method. The overflow down-draw method is to allow molten glass to flow into an overflow groove provided on an upper portion of a molded body having a substantially wedge-shaped cross section, and let molten glass overflowing from the overflow groove to both sides along the side wall portions of the molded body. A piece of glass substrate is continuously formed by being fused and integrated at the lower end portion of the formed body while flowing down. In this way, a large glass substrate with high accuracy can be formed.

In the cutting step S2, the glass substrate is cut by scribing with the cutting device 4 to obtain flat glass G having a predetermined size. In this cutting step S2, the scribing wheel is moved along a planned cutting line set on the glass substrate, thereby engraving a scribe line having a predetermined depth along the planned cutting line on the glass substrate. Then, a bending moment is applied to the periphery of the scribe line, and the flat glass G is broken along the scribe line. A plurality of pieces of plate glass G were obtained by breaking.

The sheet glass G obtained in the cutting step S2 is transferred from the cutting device 4 to the end surface processing device 3 in a transfer step. Specifically, the sheet glass G temporarily waiting at the first standby position WP1 by the conveying device 2 is added to the set glass 16 set on the end plate 16 of the end surface processing device 3. Work station CP is moved in. When the processing by the end surface processing device 3 is completed, the plate glass G is carried out from the platen 16 and moved to the second standby position WP2 to temporarily wait.

As shown in FIG. 6, the end surface processing step S3 includes: a positioning step S31 of the flat glass G by the positioning device 18, a fixing step S32 of fixing the flat glass G to the fixed plate 16, and each displacement sensor Steps S33 for measuring the position of the end face of the sheet glass G at 19a to 19c, a sheet glass cleaning step S34 for cleaning the upper surface of the sheet glass G fixed to the platen 16, and a step of cleaning the sheet glass with the processing tools 17a and 17b The end surface of G is subjected to a chamfering grinding process step S35 and a plate washing step S36 of washing the support portion 21 of the plate 16.

Hereinafter, the end surface processing step S3 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13 with reference to the relationship between the end processing step S3 and the conveyance step. FIG. 7 shows a state immediately before the processing of the sheet glass G arranged at the processing position CP is started. As shown in FIG. 7, in the second standby position WP2, the processed flat glass G is in standby. In addition, the new flat glass G after the cutting process is performed by the cutting device 4 is moving toward the conveying device 2.

In this state, the manufacturing device 1 receives the new flat glass G from the cutting device 4 and the conveying device 2 while the flat glass G at the second standby position WP2 is on standby, and is positioned by the end surface processing device 3 Processing of the sheet glass G at the processing position CP.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the conveying device 2 starts the holding device 9. The holding member 13 of the holding device 9 is raised by the operation of the actuator 14, and the flat glass G supported by the conveyance belt 6 is raised. Such as As a result, the sheet glass G is in a state of being separated upward from the conveyance belt 6, that is, in a state of being located above the second standby position WP2.

As such, when the sheet glass G is disposed in the processing position CP in the conveying step, when the other sheet glass G is disposed at the first standby position WP1, the sheet glass G disposed at the second standby position WP2 is The holding device 9 is held at a position above the second standby position WP2 (holding step). At this time, the holding member 13 discharges liquid from the hole 15. In this way, the liquid is interposed between the holding member 13 and the sheet glass G, and abrasion of the sheet glass G in the holding step is prevented from occurring.

Next, the conveying device 2 starts the conveying belt 6 and receives a new sheet glass G from the cutting device 4. As shown in FIG. 9, after the sheet glass G is moved to the first standby position WP1 by the conveyance device 2, the conveyance belt 6 is stopped. Furthermore, the sheet glass G held above the second standby position WP2 is not moved by the activation of the conveying belt 6.

While the transfer device 2 is operating as described above, the end surface processing device 3 starts processing the end surface of the sheet glass G located at the processing position CP. Specifically, the positioning step S31, the fixing step S32, the measurement step S33, the flat glass cleaning step S34, the grinding processing step S35, and the plate cleaning step S36 are sequentially performed.

In the positioning step S31, the abutting pressing body 26 of the two pressing members 24a, 24b pushes the first side G1 of the flat glass G, and the abutting pressing body 26 of the one pressing member 24c pushes the third side G3. As a result, the second side G2 of the sheet glass G is brought into contact with the two blocking members 25a, 25b against the blocking body 28, and the fourth side G4 is brought into contact with one blocking member. 25c abuts the blocking body 28 (refer to FIG. 2). In this way, the plate glass G is positioned with respect to the platen 16.

When the positioning step S31 ends, the positioning device 18 retreats from the flat glass G, and performs a fixing step S32. In the fixing step S32, the suction device passes through the holes 22, 23 of the plate 16 to generate a negative pressure on the back surface side of the plate glass G, thereby holding and holding the plate glass G on the support portion 21 of the plate 16.

When the fixing step S32 is completed, the measurement step S33 is performed. In this measurement step S33, each of the displacement sensors 19a to 19c is in contact with the end faces of the sides G1 to G3 of the corresponding plate glass G, and the position (displacement) is measured. With this measurement step S33, the amount of deviation of the sheet glass G positioned in the positioning step S31 from the reference position can be detected.

When the measurement step S33 ends, the displacement sensors 19a to 19c are retracted from the flat glass G, and the flat glass washing step S34 is performed. In this flat glass washing step S34, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, while moving the shower nozzle 30 which is stopped on the downstream side of the flat glass G in the reverse conveyance direction XR, The shower nozzle 30 discharges the cleaning liquid toward the flat glass G located below. The shower nozzle 30 sprays the cleaning liquid toward the flat glass G before the grinding processing step S35 by the processing tools 17a and 17b is started.

In this way, the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface of the sheet glass G in the cutting step S2 can be removed. Furthermore, by leaving a cleaning liquid on the upper surface of the sheet glass G, it is possible to prevent the glass frit generated from the sheet glass G from adhering to the sheet glass G in the subsequent grinding process step S35. surface. In addition, the cleaning brush 31 does not rotate with the shower nozzle 30 along the reverse conveyance direction XR and passes above the sheet glass G.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the cleaning liquid is sprayed toward the flat glass G from the end portion on the downstream side to the end on the upstream side of the sheet glass G, the shower nozzle 30 stops discharging the cleaning liquid, and Stand-by with the cleaning brush 31.

In the grinding processing step S35, the grinding amount of each of the processing tools 17a and 17b is determined based on the shift amount of the end surface of the flat glass G measured by each of the displacement sensors 19a to 19c. Each machining tool 17a, 17b grinds an end surface based on the determined grinding amount. Each machining tool 17a, 17b grinds the end surface from one end portion of the first side G1 and the second side G2 to the other end portion.

While the processing tools 17a and 17b are moving the spray nozzle 30 of the platen cleaning device 20, the processing nozzle 17 is moved in the reverse conveyance direction XR so as to follow the spray nozzle 30, and the end surface of the flat glass G is ground. cut. In this case, since the moving speeds of the processing tools 17 a and 17 b are equal to or lower than the moving speed of the shower nozzle 30, the processing tools 17 a and 17 b do not exceed the shower nozzle 30. In this way, when the grinding process step S35 is started while the shower nozzle 30 is moving, the cycle time for manufacturing the flat glass G can be shortened.

Each of the processing tools 17a, 17b is subjected to an end surface grinding process from one end portion to the other end portion of the sheet glass G, and then returned to the standby position on the one end portion side of the sheet glass G in preparation for the next grinding process. When the processing is completed, the new sheet glass G is brought to the first standby position WP1 by the transfer step. When the sheet glass G arrives, the holding device 9 holds it. The held sheet glass G is returned to the conveyance belt 6. That is, the holding device 9 lowers the holding member 13 and returns to the standby position (the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9). As a result, the sheet glass G is separated from the holding member 13 and placed again at the second standby position WP2 of the conveyance belt 6.

When the grinding process step S35 is completed, simultaneous conveyance of each sheet glass G by the conveyance device 2 is performed. When the flat glass G is conveyed, the end surface processing device 3 operates the pressure feeding device, and discharges the gas-liquid mixed fluid ML from the holes 22 and 23 of each member 16a to 16d of the plate 16 to fix and fix the flat glass G. Lifted.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the guide member 11 of the lifting device 8 of the conveying device 2 is raised. Thereby, the conveyance belt 6 is moved above the support part 21 of the fixed plate 16, and the plate glass G is raised. As a result, the sheet glass G is separated from the support portion 21 of the platen 16 and positioned above the processing position CP.

In this state, the conveying device 2 starts the conveying belt 6 and simultaneously conveys each sheet glass G to the downstream side in the conveying direction X. That is, the sheet glass G waiting at the second standby position WP2 is moved to the cleaning device 5, and the sheet glass G after finishing processing at the processing position CP is moved to the second standby position WP2, and the standby at the first standby position WP1 The sheet glass G moves to the processing position CP.

The plate washing step S36 is started while these plate glasses G are moving. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the platen cleaning device 20 moves the actuator 32 to lower the cleaning brush 31. Each cleaning brush 31 is in contact with a support portion 21 of a member 16a to 16d of a corresponding plate 16 touch. In addition, the cleaning brush 31 starts to rotate by driving the motor.

In this case, although the cleaning brush 31 and the conveyance belt 6 overlap each other in a side view (see FIG. 10), each of the cleaning brushes 31 is arranged at intervals without contacting the conveyance belt 6. Therefore, each cleaning brush 31 is in contact with only the support portion 21 of each member 16a to 16d (see FIG. 11).

At this time, the movement of the flat glass G located at the processing position CP to the second standby position WP2 is started, and the cleaning brush 31 and the spray nozzle 30 start to move in the conveying direction X following the flat glass G immediately. The shower nozzle 30 and the cleaning brush 31 are moved to the downstream side at a speed substantially the same as the conveyance speed of the sheet glass G on the conveyance belt 6 by the operation of the moving mechanism. In this manner, the plate 16 is cleaned while the plate glass G is being conveyed, and the cycle time for manufacturing the plate glass G can be shortened as much as possible.

The cleaning brush 31 rotates in a direction opposite to the moving direction, and cleans the support portion 21 of the plate 16. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the cleaning brush 31 moving toward the right direction (conveying direction X) on the paper surface is rotated leftward (counterclockwise). With such rotation, the cleaning brush 31 can reliably separate foreign matters such as glass frit and the like adhered to the support portion 21 of the platen 16.

In this plate washing step S36, the gas-liquid mixed fluid ML is ejected toward the support portion 21 from the holes 22, 23 of the members 16a to 16d of the plate 16, while washing with the washing brush 31 is performed. In this way, the foreign matter adhering to the support portion 21 of the fixed plate 16 is easily separated. In addition, in the fixed-plate cleaning step S36, the cleaning brush 31 is advanced, and the shower is sprayed. The mouth 30 follows behind and moves at the same speed. Thereby, the foreign matter adhering to the support portion 21 of each of the members 16a to 16d can be reliably washed with the cleaning liquid of the spray nozzle 30 immediately after being separated by the cleaning brush 31.

As shown in FIG. 13, the cleaning brush 31 is lifted by the operation of the actuator 32 of the plate cleaning device 20 when the support portion 21 of each member 16 a to 16 d of the plate 16 is cleaned. Return to the standby position (the position shown by the two-dot chain line). In addition, the shower nozzle 30 is stopped together with the cleaning brush 31 and the discharge of the cleaning liquid is also stopped. This completes the plate cleaning step S36.

At the end of the plate cleaning step S36, the sheet glass G which is waiting at the first standby position WP1 is brought to the processing position CP. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13, the flat glass G is disposed above the fixed plate 16 in a state of being supported by the conveyance belt 6. The lifting device 8 then lowers the guide member 11 located at the upper position and returns to the standby position. As a result, the sheet glass G is lowered from the upper position of the fixed plate 16 toward the fixed plate 16 and is placed on the support portion 21 (processing position CP). By returning the guide member 11 to the standby position, the conveyance belt 6 moves below the support portion 21 of the fixed platen 16. This returns to the state shown in Fig. 7, and then repeats the above operations.

In the end surface processing step S3, after grinding the two sides G1, G2 of the rectangular plate glass G, the plate glass G is rotated by 90 ° in the horizontal direction to change the posture, and the remaining two sides G3, G4 are performed. The grinding of the end face is not shown in this step. In addition, after the grinding process step S35 is performed, a chamfering step (not shown) of the flat glass G may be performed. (Shown), but it is not limited to this.

When the end surface processing step S3 is completed, a cleaning step S4 is performed. In the cleaning step S4, the flat glass G after the end surface processing is transferred to the cleaning device 5, the cleaning liquid is supplied by the supply device, and the surface of the flat glass G is cleaned by the cleaning head. Through the steps S1 to S4 described above, the sheet glass G is manufactured.

According to the manufacturing method and the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the flat glass G of this embodiment described above, in the plate cleaning step S36, the cleaning brush 31 is brought into contact with the plate 16 to separate the foreign matter attached to the plate 16, Then, the cleaning liquid is discharged from the shower nozzle 30 toward the platen 16 to rinse the foreign matter. In this manner, by spraying the cleaning brush 31 and the cleaning liquid from the shower nozzle 30, the foreign matter adhering to the platen 16 can be reliably removed.

The plate cleaning step S36 is performed from the time when the flat glass G after the end surface processing is carried out from the plate 16 to the time when the new plate glass G for processing is fixed to the plate 16. In this way, cleaning of the fixed plate 16 can be performed without hindering the end surface processing step S3, and therefore, the cycle time for manufacturing the flat glass G is not prolonged. Therefore, the sheet glass G can be manufactured efficiently. In addition, when the cleaning performed by the cleaning brush 31 is completed, the cleaning brush 31 is retracted upward from the platen 16, so that the conveyance of the sheet glass G is not hindered by the cleaning brush 31.

This invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, and is not limited to the said effect. The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Although the above-mentioned embodiment is exemplified by having The plate cleaning device 20 of the nozzle 30 and the cleaning brush 31 cleans the plate 16, but it is not limited to this. The platen 16 may be cleaned by the platen cleaning device 20 having only the spray nozzle 30, or the platen 16 may be cleaned by the platen cleaning device 20 having only the cleaning brush 31. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the cleaning brush 31 is rotated to wash the platen 16 by way of example, the cleaning brush 31 is not limited to this, and the cleaning plate 31 may not be rotated but may be shaken to clean the platen 16 .

1‧‧‧ manufacturing equipment

2‧‧‧ transport device

3‧‧‧face machining device

4‧‧‧ cutting device

5‧‧‧washing device

6‧‧‧ transport belt

7‧‧‧Drive

8‧‧‧ Lifting device

9‧‧‧ holding device

10‧‧‧ pulley

11‧‧‧Guide members

12‧‧‧Actuator

13‧‧‧ holding member

14‧‧‧Actuator

16‧‧‧ fixed

17a‧‧‧Processing tools

20‧‧‧ fixed plate washing device

21‧‧‧ support

30‧‧‧ spray nozzle

31‧‧‧washing brush

32‧‧‧Actuator

CP‧‧‧Processing position

G‧‧‧ flat glass

WP1‧‧‧1st standby position

WP2‧‧‧ 2nd standby position

X‧‧‧ transport direction

XR‧‧‧Reverse transport direction

Claims (6)

A method for manufacturing flat glass includes an end surface processing step and a conveying step. In the end surface processing step, an end surface processing device provided with a fixing plate and a processing tool for fixing the flat glass is used to process the end surface of the flat glass; The conveying step is to move the flat glass into or out of the platen by a conveying device along a predetermined conveying direction. The end surface processing step includes a platen cleaning step. The platen cleaning step is The plate cleaning is performed by a plate cleaning device arranged above the plate, and the plate cleaning step is completed when the end surface processing of the plate glass fixed to the plate is performed by the processing tool. Thereafter, the platen is cleaned by the platen cleaning device during a period from when the platen glass is unloaded from the platen by the transfer device to when the platen glass for new processing is transferred to the platen and fixed. . The method for manufacturing flat glass according to claim 1, wherein the plate cleaning device is provided with a nozzle that discharges a cleaning liquid toward the plate and a cleaning brush that can contact the plate and the plate cleaning In the cleaning step, the cleaning brush is moved while rotating while contacting the platen, and the cleaning liquid is ejected toward the platen by the nozzle while being moved with the cleaning brush, thereby moving the cleaning brush together. The plate is cleaned, and the cleaning brush is retracted from the plate after the cleaning. The method for manufacturing flat glass according to claim 2, wherein: The nozzle is configured to discharge a cleaning solution toward the upper surface of the flat glass before the flat glass is processed by the processing tool. The method for manufacturing flat glass according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processing tool is configured to move an end surface of the flat glass while moving in a direction opposite to the carrying direction of the flat glass. Implement processing. The method for manufacturing flat glass according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cleaning brush is moved in the same direction as the carrying direction of the flat glass and is rotated in a direction opposite to the carrying direction. The method for manufacturing flat glass according to any one of claims 2, 3, and 5, wherein the fixed plate is composed of a plurality of members, and the transfer device includes a transfer belt disposed between the plurality of members. The cleaning brush is configured to be in contact with only the member without being in contact with the conveying belt.