GB2235190A

GB2235190A - Method and apparatus for cutting a sheet of laminated glass

Info

Publication number: GB2235190A
Application number: GB8914545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Babbidge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-24
Filing date: 1989-06-24
Publication date: 1991-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-24
Also published as: GB2235190B; GB8914545D0

Abstract

In order to cut a shoot of laminated glass 17 the sheet of glass 17 is supported vertically on support structure 10 and moved along horizontal rollers 12 between two guide members 15 and 16 to a desired cutting position and is then held in that position, glass cutting tools are then moved over the sheet of glass and guided by the guide members 15, 16 to cut each glass laminate 17a, 17b, the sheet of glass 17 is then caused to flex to cause the glass laminates 17a, 17b to break along the lines of cut and the interleaving laminate 17c is then severed or destroyed along the line of cut. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A SHEET OF LAMINATED GLASS This invention relates to a method of cutting a sheet of laminated glass and to apparatus for use in cutting a sheet of laminated glass.

Laminated glass comprises two sheets of glass secured together in face to face relationship by an interleaving layer of suitable material such as a polyvinyl material.

The conventional method of cutting a sheet of laminated glass involves the steps of placing the sheet of glass on a flat bed, cutting the upper laminate by moving a glass cutting tool across the laminate, flexing the glass to cause the upper laminate to break along the line of cut, manually turning over the sheet of glass to position the other laminate uppermost, cutting said other laminate by means of the glass cutting tool, flexing said other laminate to cause it to break along the line of cut, and then severing or destroying the interleaving layer along the line of cut.

Large sheets of laminated glass are cumbersome and heavy. It is difficult for a person to manually lift and turn over a sheet and the physical effort required by the person is great. It is also necessary for the person to re-locate a guide for the glass cutter in exact alignment with the previous cut. The present invention aims to simplify the method of cutting a sheet of laminated glass and to reduce the physical effort required.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a method of cutting a sheet of laminated glass, comprising the steps of placing the sheet of glass in a vertical or substantially vertical position on a support structure, moving the sheet horizontally between two vertical or substantially vertical spaced apart guide members to a desired cutting position, moving a glass cutting tool along each guide member to cut each laminate, causing each laminate to break along the line of cut and then severing or destroying the interleaving layer of material along the line of cut.

By having the sheet of glass supported in a vertical or substantially vertical position obviates the need of having to lift the sheet from a horizontal position and to turn it over. Thus, considerably less physical effort is required of the person. There is no need to have to re-locate a guide in alignment with the first cut.

According to the present invention in another aspect there is provided apparatus for use in cutting a sheet of laminated glass, comprising support structure for supporting a sheet of glass in a vertical or substantially vertical position for horizontal movement relative thereto, said support structure being provided with two vertical spaced apart guide members between which a sheet of glass supported by the structure can be moved horizontally, said guide members each serving to guide a glass cutting tool for cutting each laminate of the sheet of glass.

Preferably, the support structure is provided with a horizontal roller bed on which the bottom edge of a sheet of glass is placed.

The support structure preferably is provided with vertical or substantially vertical rollers on which one side of the sheet of glass is supported.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of apparatus embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a vertical plan view of the apparatus; and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a device for use in moving the cut laminates apart.

The apparatus comprises a support structure indicated generally at 10 which includes a horizontal support member 11 provided with a plurality of horizontal rollers 12 and horizontal members 13 provided with a plurality of vertical rollers or wheels 14. The support members 13 are disposed in a vertical plane or in a plane slightly inclined to the vertical. Provided on the apparatus are two vertical or substantially vertical spaced apart guide members 15 and 16.

In order to cut a sheet of laminated glass 17, which comprises two laminates 17a and 17b and an interleaving layer of securing material 17c, the sheet of glass 17 is placed with a bottom edge thereof in contact with the rollers 12 and with one side resting against the rollers or wheels 14. The sheet of glass 17 is then moved horizontally along the horizontal support member 11 and between the two guide members 15 and 16 to a desired cutting location. The sheet of glass 17 is then clamped in position either by moving the guide members 15,16 relative to each other transversely of the sheet of glass 17 or by providing suction or gripping pads 18 on one or both of the guide members 15,16.

When the sheet of glass 17 has been clamped in position a hand held glass cutter can be placed in contact with one laminate 17a or 17b and moved across the laminate guided by the guide member 15 or 16 to cut the laminate and then the other laminate is cut in a similar manner. The sheet of glass 17 is flexed to cause the laminates 17a, 17b to break along the line of cut. The interleaving layer of securing material 17c is then severed along the line of cut to separate the cut piece of the sheet 17 from the remainder.

It is possible for the apparatus to include two glass cutting tools which are guided by the guide members 15 and 16 and which are moved individually or together to cut the laminates 17a, 17b. The glass cutting tools could be as indicated at 19 in Figure 2 and movable along guide slots 20 provided ir the guide members 15 and 16.

In order to be able to cut the sheet of glass 17 at an angle it is possible for the guide members 15 and 16 to be pivotably mounted at their upper or lower ends relative to the support structure 10.

In order to be able to sever or cut the interleaving layer 17c it is possible to provide some suitable means for moving the cut laminates 17a, 17b in a direction away from the remainder of the sheet 17 in order to increase the spacing along the lines of cut to enable a cutting blade to be inserted for cutting the interleaving layer 17c. A suitable means is shown in Figure 3 which comprises two suction or gripping members 21 which are interconnected by linkages 22 to a handle 23. In use, the two suction or gripping members 21 are engaged with the sheet of glass 17 on each side of the line of cut 24, the handle 23 is moved towards the sheet of glass 17 and the linkages 22 exert a force to the members 21 causing the cut piece of glass 17 to move away from the fixed or held remainder of the sheet of glass 17 to increase the gap between them.A cutting blade can then be inserted into and moved along the gap.

The support structure 10 may be provided with a machine for polishing the edges of a cut sheet of glass.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be provided with suitable means for flexing the sheet of glass after cutting in order to break the laminates 17a, 17b along the line of cut or such flexing may be carried out manually.

The apparatus enables the laminates of a sheet of laminated glass to be cut without having to lift the sheet from a horizontal position and turn it over. The apparatus also avoids the need to have to re-position a guide for a glass cutting tool after one cut has been made.

It is possible after cutting a laminate to cause the glass to break along the line of cut by running a roller over the surface of the other laminate along the line of cut. Such a roller may be hand held or mounted on the apparatus for movement over the glass.

Such a roller can be provided on each side of the apparatus.

Instead of severing or cutting the interleaving layer it is possible-to inject a solvent liquid into the line of cut to destroy the interleaving layer along the line of cut.

Claims

1. A method of cutting a sheet of laminated glass, comprising the steps of placing the sheet of glass in a vertical or substantially vertical position on a support structure, moving the sheet of glass horizontally between or beneath two vertical or substantially vertical spaced apart guide members to a desired cutting position, moving a glass cutting tool along each guide member to cut each laminate, causing each laminate to break along the line of cut, and then severing or destroying the interleaving layer of material along tne line of cut.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, including the step of moving tne guide members relative to each other transversely of the sheet of glass to clamp the sheet of glass in tne desired cutting position.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, including the step of clamping the sheet of glass in the desired cutting position by means of section pads.

4. A method as ciaimea in any preceding claim, in whir glass cutting tools are simultaneously moved along eacn sioe eI Wr,e sheet oi glass.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cut laminates of glass are moved in a direction away from the remainder of the sheet of glass to increase the spacing along the lines of cut before the interleaving layer of material is severed or destroyed along the line of cut.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sheet of glass is flexed after cutting in order to cause the glass laminates to break along the lines of cut.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, in which the sheet of glass is caused to flex by moving a roller over the glass.

8. A method of cutting a sheet of laminated glass, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Apparatus for use in cutting a sheet of laminated glass, comprising support structure for supporting a sheet of laminated glass in a vertical or substantially vertical position for horizontal movement relative thereto, said support structure being provided with two vertical spaced apart guide members between which a sheet or glass supported by the structure can be moved horizontally, said guide members each serving to guide a glass cutting tool for cutting each glass laminate of the sheet of glass.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, in which the support structure is provided with a horizontal roller bed or which the bottom edge of a sheet of glass is placed.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, in which the support structure is provided with vertical or substantially vertical rollers on which one side of the sheet of glass is supported.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, including means for moving the guide members relative to eacn owner transversely of the sheet of glass to clamp the sheet of glass in a cutting position.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to li, in which gripping pads are provided on one cr both guide.

members for clamping a sheet of glass in a cutting position.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, inducing glass cutting tools movable along respective guide members individually or together.

i5. .ppcra.us as calmed in Claim 14, in wnicn tne glass cutting tools are each movable along a guide slot provided in a guide member.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 15, in which the guide members are pivotably mounted to the support structure.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 16, including means for moving the cut glass laminates in a direction away from the remainder of the sheet of glass to increase the spacing along the lines of cut.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 17, including means for polishing the edges of a cut sheet of glass.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 18, including a roller which can be moved over the sheet of glass to cause the sheet of glass to break along the line of cut.

20. Apparatus for use in cutting a sheet of laminated glass, substantially as hereinbefore described witn reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying crawings.