GB2124612A

GB2124612A - Glass cutting head arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2124612A
Application number: GB08318975A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurice Henry Hawkins
Original assignee: PLANTERS POWERGRIND
Current assignee: PLANTERS POWERGRIND
Priority date: 1982-07-16
Filing date: 1983-07-13
Publication date: 1984-02-22
Also published as: GB2124612B; GB8318975D0

Abstract

A pair of cutting heads (4,4%) are mounted for cutting operation at right angles to one another on the bridge (2) of a glass cutting machine respectively for longitudinal and transverse cutting or scoring of the surface (G) of an original large sheet of glass on the machine bed (1). One of the heads viz: the head (4) effects cutting in the longitudinal or "Y" direction on travelling movement of the bridge (2) along the machine bed (1) and the other head (4%) effects cutting in the transverse or "X" direction on movement along the bridge (2) when the latter is stationary. The cutting heads (4, 4%) are selectively brought into cutting contact with the glass i.e. one or the other and are shown carried close together by a common mounting (24) movable along the bridge (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Glass cutting head arrangement The object of this invention is to provide an improved cutting head arrangement of or for a sheet or plate glass cutting machine of the kind in which the cutting heads are carried by support structure such as a bridge extending across the glass supporting bed of the machine, the support structure or bridge being arranged for travelling movement along the bed and the cutting heads being adjustably mounted on the bridge for required positioning in cutting or scoring the glass sheet in subsequently obtaining small sheets or panes from the latter. Usually the positioning and operation of the cutting heads in a glass cutting programme are computer controlled for maximum optimisation of the original large sheet of glass.

A particular object is to provide an arrangement of cutting heads whereby longitudinal and transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet can be readily carried out.

According to this invention a cutting head arrangement of or for a sheet or plate glass cutting machine of the kind referred to is characterised by the provision of at least a pair of cutting heads mounted or mountable for adjustable positioning on the support structure or bridge of the machine and of which one head is arranged to be directed for longitudinal cutting or scoring of the glass sheet and the other head is arranged to be directed at right angles to the first mentioned head for transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet, the cutting heads being further arranged to be selectively brought into the operative cutting or scoring position, i.e. one or the other thereof, according to the particular direction of glass cutting required during a cutting programme.

A practical example of the cutting head arrangement is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cutting head arrangement on a glass cutting machine, and Figures 2 and 3 are detail front and side elevations on an enlarged scale of the cutting heads.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 the machine comprises a bed 1 on which an original large sheet of plate glass is laid ready for cutting, the bed 1 being spanned by a bridge 2 mbvable along the bed 1 such as on tracks or guideways 21 alongside the latter.

A mounting 24 adjustable along the bridge 2 is shown carrying a pair of cutting heads 4, 4' directed at right angles to one another, one in the longitudinal or "Y" direction of the bed 1 and the other in the transverse or "X" direction.

In the usual manner each head 4 or 4' consists of a vertical columne 41 (Figures 2 and 3) slidable in bearing support 42 fixed to the mounting 24, the lower end of the column 41 carrying a small glass cutting or scoring element or wheel 40 and also a contact wheel 44 of somewhat larger diameter arranged to roll on the surface G of the glass for maintaining the required depth of cut.

The cutting and contact wheels 4, 44 and column 41 are arranged to be lowered and raised to or from the operative position by a fluid pressure operated (e.g. pneumatic) ram 45 acting on an arm 46 extending from the upper end of the column 41.

The ram 45 acts on the arm 46 through the intermediarly of a compression spring 47 in order to allow for some yielding movement of the cutting and contact wheels 40, 44 as they travel along or across the surface G of the glass. The lower operative position of the cutting and contact wheels 4, 44 is limited by an adjustable screw stop 48 carried by the arm 46 and acting on the linear bearing housing 42.

In use one or the other of the cutting heads 4, 4' is lowered to the operative position with its cutting and contact wheels 4, 44 against the surface G of the glass for cutting or scoring the latter.

Thus when the head 4 is lowered, longitudinal ("Y") scoring of the glass is obtained as the head 4 is moved by traveliing movement of the bridge 2, the transverse positioning of the mounting 24 on the bridge 2 determining the location of the longitudinal scoring from the sides or a datum side or line of the original glass sheet on the bed 1.

When the transverse ("X") cutting or scoring is required the longitudinal direction head 4 is raised and the transverse head 4' lowered, the mounting being then moved along the stationary bridge 2.

As will be appreciated and by means of a pair of cutting heads 4, 4' arranged and operated in the manner described, longitudinal and transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet can be readily carried out in accordance with a required computer controlled programme, allowance being made in such computer controlled operation for the short distance apart of the cutting heads 4, 4'.

In the case of a large machine more than one pair of the cutting heads 4, 4' may be carried by the bridge 2 for more quickly carrying out a cutting programme.

The bridge 2 is operated and controlled for travelling movement along the bed 1 in any known or suitable manner and likewise the movement of the mounting 24 along the bridge 2.

Claims

1. A cutting head arrangement of or for a sheet or plate glass cutting machine of the kind referred to characterised by the provision of at least a pair of cutting heads mounted or mountable for adjustable positioning on the support structure or bridge of the machine and of which one head is arranged to be directed for longitudinal cutting or scoring of the glass sheet and the other head is arranged to be directed at right angles to the first mentioned head for transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet, the cutting heads being further arranged to be selectively brought into the operative cutting or scoring position, i.e. one or

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Glass cutting head arrangement The object of this invention is to provide an improved cutting head arrangement of or for a sheet or plate glass cutting machine of the kind in which the cutting heads are carried by support structure such as a bridge extending across the glass supporting bed of the machine, the support structure or bridge being arranged for travelling movement along the bed and the cutting heads being adjustably mounted on the bridge for required positioning in cutting or scoring the glass sheet in subsequently obtaining small sheets or panes from the latter. Usually the positioning and operation of the cutting heads in a glass cutting programme are computer controlled for maximum optimisation of the original large sheet of glass. A particular object is to provide an arrangement of cutting heads whereby longitudinal and transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet can be readily carried out. According to this invention a cutting head arrangement of or for a sheet or plate glass cutting machine of the kind referred to is characterised by the provision of at least a pair of cutting heads mounted or mountable for adjustable positioning on the support structure or bridge of the machine and of which one head is arranged to be directed for longitudinal cutting or scoring of the glass sheet and the other head is arranged to be directed at right angles to the first mentioned head for transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet, the cutting heads being further arranged to be selectively brought into the operative cutting or scoring position, i.e. one or the other thereof, according to the particular direction of glass cutting required during a cutting programme. A practical example of the cutting head arrangement is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cutting head arrangement on a glass cutting machine, and Figures 2 and 3 are detail front and side elevations on an enlarged scale of the cutting heads. Referring firstly to Figure 1 the machine comprises a bed 1 on which an original large sheet of plate glass is laid ready for cutting, the bed 1 being spanned by a bridge 2 mbvable along the bed 1 such as on tracks or guideways 21 alongside the latter. A mounting 24 adjustable along the bridge 2 is shown carrying a pair of cutting heads 4, 4' directed at right angles to one another, one in the longitudinal or "Y" direction of the bed 1 and the other in the transverse or "X" direction. In the usual manner each head 4 or 4' consists of a vertical columne 41 (Figures 2 and 3) slidable in bearing support 42 fixed to the mounting 24, the lower end of the column 41 carrying a small glass cutting or scoring element or wheel 40 and also a contact wheel 44 of somewhat larger diameter arranged to roll on the surface G of the glass for maintaining the required depth of cut. The cutting and contact wheels 4, 44 and column 41 are arranged to be lowered and raised to or from the operative position by a fluid pressure operated (e.g. pneumatic) ram 45 acting on an arm 46 extending from the upper end of the column 41. The ram 45 acts on the arm 46 through the intermediarly of a compression spring 47 in order to allow for some yielding movement of the cutting and contact wheels 40, 44 as they travel along or across the surface G of the glass. The lower operative position of the cutting and contact wheels 4, 44 is limited by an adjustable screw stop 48 carried by the arm 46 and acting on the linear bearing housing 42. In use one or the other of the cutting heads 4, 4' is lowered to the operative position with its cutting and contact wheels 4, 44 against the surface G of the glass for cutting or scoring the latter. Thus when the head 4 is lowered, longitudinal ("Y") scoring of the glass is obtained as the head 4 is moved by traveliing movement of the bridge 2, the transverse positioning of the mounting 24 on the bridge 2 determining the location of the longitudinal scoring from the sides or a datum side or line of the original glass sheet on the bed 1. When the transverse ("X") cutting or scoring is required the longitudinal direction head 4 is raised and the transverse head 4' lowered, the mounting being then moved along the stationary bridge 2. As will be appreciated and by means of a pair of cutting heads 4, 4' arranged and operated in the manner described, longitudinal and transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet can be readily carried out in accordance with a required computer controlled programme, allowance being made in such computer controlled operation for the short distance apart of the cutting heads 4, 4'. In the case of a large machine more than one pair of the cutting heads 4, 4' may be carried by the bridge 2 for more quickly carrying out a cutting programme. The bridge 2 is operated and controlled for travelling movement along the bed 1 in any known or suitable manner and likewise the movement of the mounting 24 along the bridge 2. Claims

1. A cutting head arrangement of or for a sheet or plate glass cutting machine of the kind referred to characterised by the provision of at least a pair of cutting heads mounted or mountable for adjustable positioning on the support structure or bridge of the machine and of which one head is arranged to be directed for longitudinal cutting or scoring of the glass sheet and the other head is arranged to be directed at right angles to the first mentioned head for transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet, the cutting heads being further arranged to be selectively brought into the operative cutting or scoring position, i.e. one or the other thereof, according to the particular direction of glass cutting required during a cutting programme.

2. A cutting head arrangement according to claim 1 wherien one cutting head of the pair thereof is movable by travelling movement of the support structure or bridge e.g. for longitudinal cutting or scoring of the glass sheet, and the other cutting head is movable along the support structure or bridge e.g. for transverse cutting or scoring of the glass sheet.

3. A cutting head arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the pair of cutting heads are carried by a common mounting movable along the support structure or bridge.

4. A cutting head arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the pair of cutting heads are situated close together on the common mounting.

5. A cutting head arrangement of or for a sheet or plate glass cutting machine of the kind referred to when substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.