JP2007246287A - Vertical conveyance apparatus for plate material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problem of a conventional conveyance apparatus wherein large-sized plate materials cannot be conveyed with high quality. <P>SOLUTION: This conveyance apparatus comprises a belt conveyer 21 for conveying a plate glass 2 in a standing state by supporting its lower end; a fluid guide 8 for supporting the plate glass 2 in the state of noncontact with a structure by applying fluid pressure on the whole surface of the standing plate glass 2; and a controller 43 for controlling the fluid pressure. With this constitution, the plate glass 2 is set in a vertical state to support its surface in the state of noncontact by fluid. Consequently, the large-sized plate glass 2 can be stably conveyed while maintaining high quality of the surface of the plate glass 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveying device that conveys a plate material in a vertical direction, and relates to a vertical conveying device that is suitable for conveying a thin plate material used in a glass substrate for a liquid crystal display, a plasma display panel, or the like in a vertical state. is there.

  Conventionally, plate materials (plate materials such as rare metals, silicon, glass for flat display) have been used in various fields. Among such plate materials, in recent years, demand for plate glass used for, for example, a liquid crystal display which is a thin plate material is increasing.

  The following description will be made by taking a plate glass used for the liquid crystal display or the like as an example. As this plate glass, for example, a glass substrate having a thickness of about 0.7 mm and a size of about 1000 mm × 1000 mm or less is often used. Such a glass substrate is manufactured by conveying a plate glass (mother glass) having a size that allows a plurality of glass substrates to be taken in a horizontal state, and performing processing such as cutting on the plate glass.

  Moreover, in order to protect the surface from the cullet generated in the process, the particles generated as a result of processing, etc., a method of attaching a protective sheet to the glass surface is generally employed for the plate glass thus conveyed. .

  As this type of prior art, there is a saddle type polishing machine that conveys a sheet glass in a posture leaning against a frame provided with rollers and polishes each edge of the sheet glass (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In addition, as another conventional technique, there is a supply device that attempts to receive a plate glass laid on a horse on a conveyance surface in a horizontal state (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent No. 2623476 (page 3, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) Japanese Patent No. 2954101 (page 3, FIG. 3)

  By the way, in recent years, in the field of such a glass substrate for liquid crystal displays, the size of the plate glass has been reduced so that the yield can be improved in order to improve productivity, or it can be used for a larger liquid crystal display. There is a desire to increase the size. Increasing the size of the plate glass increases the number of glass substrates that can be taken from one plate glass, improving the yield, and making it possible to manufacture a glass substrate corresponding to a large liquid crystal display.

  In addition, there is a demand for improving the performance of displays and the like by making the glass substrate thinner, and the plate glass tends to be thinned. In addition, the demand for quality becomes stricter every year, and there is also a demand for cost reduction.

  However, as described above, in the apparatus that transports and processes the plate glass in a sideways state, even if the equipment is enlarged, it is difficult to support and handle the large and thin plate glass, due to the weight of the plate glass. It is difficult to produce stably by causing cracks or breakage due to bending or the like. In addition, when this plate glass is to be processed, it is further bent by the processing reaction force, so that cracking and breakage are more likely to occur.

  Also in Patent Document 1, when the plate glass is increased in size and thickness as described above, it is difficult to horizontally convey and process a fragile glass material. In addition, the system for transporting such a fragile plate glass with the conventional configuration becomes more complicated in structure, and the maintenance of adjustment and accuracy becomes complicated and difficult. In addition, it is difficult to minimize material breakage while balancing the influence of gravity and processing reaction force. In addition, with a conventional size glass plate, it was possible to handle manually when it was necessary, but manual intervention has become impossible due to the large and thin plate glass.

  Further, in the case of a machine that horizontally conveys plate glass, the machine becomes large, so that the installation area becomes large and the cost becomes high. In addition, the maintenance becomes difficult as the machine width increases.

  In addition, as described above, when protecting the glass surface by attaching a protective sheet to the surface of such a plate glass, in the case of an enlarged thin plate glass, the protective sheet attached without breaking the plate glass is peeled off. It is difficult. Temporarily, when it conveys without sticking a protection sheet, with the support like the above-mentioned patent documents 2, it becomes impossible to maintain quality by damaging the glass surface with the roller which contacts.

  Then, this invention aims at providing the vertical conveying apparatus which can convey a big thin board | plate materials, such as plate glass, in a high quality state.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a transport driving device for supporting and transporting the lower end of a standing plate material, and a size capable of supporting the entire surface of the standing plate material facing each other. A planar fluid guide provided with a plurality of fluid ejection holes at predetermined intervals over a range facing the entire plate member, and a plurality of adjacent fluids that flow out from the fluid ejection holes of the fluid guide. A fluid layer is formed between the entire support surface of the fluid guide, including between the fluid ejection holes, and the entire surface of the plate member, and the pressure of the fluid is adjusted so as to support the entire surface of the plate member in a non-contact state. It is characterized by comprising means for adjusting and a plurality of level adjusting members for adjusting the whole support surface of the fluid guide to a flat surface . The surface of the plate material that requires high quality by placing the plate material upright and supporting and transporting the entire surface (including one and both surfaces) in a non- contact state with the fluid pressure of the fluid guide. Since it supports and conveys at the lower end of the plate material that does not have any problem even if it comes into contact without touching anything other than the fluid, it can stably convey large thin plate materials while maintaining the high quality of the surface of the plate material . In addition, since the entire surface of the plate material is supported in a non-contact state by the fluid pressure of the fluid guide, it can be conveyed without hindering movement while maintaining a vertical posture that prevents the plate material from being bent by the fluid pressure. it can. Moreover, the flow body guide, Ki de be adjusted Runode comprise an adjusting member for adjusting the guide surface for supporting the plate material in a non-contact in a plane, the guide surface depending on the sheet material in a plane, there in easily bent plate However, the guide surface can be adjusted to prevent bending.

The fluid guide is provided with a frame having a frame structure and a guide plate having a guide surface having a size capable of supporting the entire support surface of the plate member in a non-contact manner, the plurality of level adjusting members, and the guide plate including the guide plate You may comprise so that the said guide surface may be adjusted to a plane by supporting on the side surface of the said frame in the position which avoided the fluid ejection hole, and adjusting distance. Thereby, the plane of the guide surface of the guide plate can be easily adjusted on the side surface of the frame at a position avoiding the fluid ejection holes.

Further, the transporting drive device, lever equipped with a mechanism to make a sheet which is conveyed in a horizontal state vertically while maintaining the double-sided non-contact state, even loading of the plate material was horizontal state, the plate member since the plate material while maintaining both sides in a non-contact state can be supported upright in a vertical state, it corresponds to the loading of the plate material in the horizontal and vertical states.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a fluid guide that supports the plate-material in a non-contact state by Rukoto reacted with the surface in the flow of plate material erected state, with respect to the conveying direction of the sheet material is supported by the fluid guides It includes front and rear and the holding device for holding the, and a control device for conveying the clamping device which sandwiches the plate material in the conveying direction of the sheet at a predetermined speed, the said fluid guide plurality of fluid jetting holes in the plate material supporting surface of the plate member At a predetermined interval in the transport direction of the fluid guide, and configured to support at least one surface of the lower and upper surfaces of the plate in a non-contact state by the surface tension of the liquid that has flowed out of the fluid ejection hole of the fluid guide, A transport driving device that supports and conveys the lower end of the plate material supported in a standing state by a guide is provided, and the conveyance drive device supports and conveys the lower end of the plate material, and the lower end of the plate material from the conveyance drive device. Float Ru der those characterized by being capable of changing the front and rear in the conveying direction of the plate material bellflower lifting device between a state in which conveyed pinched. As a result, even when processing the plate material to be transported, it is possible to prevent the plate material from being displaced due to the processing reaction force, etc., and the plate material can be accurately conveyed by the clamping device. Can be done with precision.
Moreover, it can be transported in accordance with the state of the plate material feeding transportable, by selecting the condition for conveying by floating state and a lower end for supporting and transferring the lower end.

Also, the height space in the same degree from half the height of the plate below the conveying path line of the plate material to be conveyed is provided with the transport drive unit, to the conveying drive unit, the lower the transport unit for supporting the lower end of the plate member closing to plate lever is provided with a discharge mechanism for discharging downwards, if both surfaces are cracked or damage to the sheet being conveyed in the state of the structure and a non-contact, from below the sheet by discharging mechanism to It can be easily discharged to the outside of the transport device.

  The present invention is implemented in the form described above, and has the following effects.

  By supporting the surface of the plate in a vertical orientation and supporting the surface with a fluid, the surface of the plate can be maintained in a non-contact state with the structure to maintain high quality. It becomes possible to do.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a transport apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the transport apparatus on the side of a sheet glass loading, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion III shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of an enlarged view of a part III shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 on the side of carrying out the glass sheet, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line VI-VI shown in FIG. Also in the following embodiments, a plate glass will be described as an example of a plate material.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment is the non-contact state of the carrying-in machine 3 which supports the plate glass 2 in the non-contact state in the vertical direction, and the plate glass 2 carried in by this carry-in machine 3 It is comprised from the transfer machine 4 conveyed by (1), and the attitude | position change machine 5 which makes the attitude | position of the conveyed plate glass 2 a vertical state, and sends it to the next. The carry-in machine 3, the transfer machine 4, and the attitude change machine 5 are provided on a gantry 7 provided on a base 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the carry-in machine 3 is provided with a fluid guide 8 that supports the plate glass 2 in a non-contact state. The fluid guide 8 is provided with a guide plate 10 provided with a plurality of fluid ejection holes 9 on the support surface side of the plate glass 2, and the guide plate 10 is formed on a frame 11 having a frame structure with bolts and nuts. It is held by the adjustment member 12. The guide plate 10 is manufactured with a smooth surface, for example, with a resin material or the like. Thereby, after assembling as the loading machine 3, the guide surface supporting the plate glass 2 of the guide plate 10 can be adjusted to a flat surface by adjusting the distance between the guide plate 10 and the frame 11 with the level adjusting member 12. .

Further, a rotating shaft 13 that rotates the fluid guide 8 between a horizontal state and an inclined state at a predetermined angle is provided at a lower part of the fluid guide 8 on the frame side. The rotation shaft 13 is provided on an upper frame 14 provided on the upper portion of the frame 7, and is configured to be rotatable via a belt 16 by a driving device 15 provided on the upper frame 14. ing. A receiving member 45 supports the fluid guide 8 in a substantially horizontal state. These are the loading machines 3 that change the state of the fluid guide 8 between a substantially horizontal state and a vertical state at a predetermined angle.

  Further, a receiving member 17 is provided at the lower part of the guide plate 10 on the side of the plate glass support. The receiving member 17 supports the weight of the plate glass when the guide plate 10 rotates vertically from the horizontal state at the lower end of the plate glass 2.

  When the plate glass 2 is carried into the fluid guide 8, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, a fluid 18 having a predetermined pressure is ejected from the fluid ejection hole 9 (FIG. 3) of the guide plate 10 in a horizontal state. The plate glass 2 in a horizontal state is received on the upper portion of the guide plate 10. In this state, a fluid layer is formed between the surface of the guide plate 10 and the plate glass 2 by the fluid 18 having a predetermined pressure. By maintaining a gap 19 by the fluid layer, both surfaces of the plate glass 2 are not separated from the structure. Supported in contact. Reference numeral 20 denotes a fluid supply pipe to the fluid ejection hole 9.

  By rotating the guide plate 10 around the rotation shaft 13 provided below the fluid guide 8 by the drive unit 15 from this state, the plate glass 2 is oriented vertically while maintaining the gap 19 with the guide plate 10. To stand. In this embodiment, as indicated by a solid line, the plate glass 2 is supported vertically at an angle of about 85 °, which is inclined at an angle of about 5 °. In this state, the control device 43 controls the fluid pressure of the fluid ejected from the support side of the guide plate 10 to the surface of the plate glass 2 in a state where the vertical plate glass 2 is slightly inclined. It keeps non-contact in balance with its own weight and strain.

  The ejection pressure of the fluid is configured to be adjustable by a flow rate adjusting valve and a pressure reducing valve within a necessary range, and the ejection amount is configured to be adjustable by a throttle valve or the like. As the fluid, the illustrated example is a gas, but a liquid may be used, and a preferable fluid may be used according to the size and weight of the plate glass 2.

  Further, when the guide plate 10 is set in a vertical state at a predetermined angle in this way, the lower end of the plate glass 2 is supported by riding on the upper surface of the belt conveyor 21 which is a support member of the transport driving device provided on the gantry 7. . As described above, the belt conveyor 21 of the transport driving device is provided at a position where the lower end of the plate glass 2 can be supported when the plate glass 2 is erected. The belt conveyor 21 supports the weight of the plate glass 2 and can travel in the transport direction. The belt conveyor 21 is arranged so that the belt 22 moves in the flow direction of the carry-in machine 3, and the belt 22 is hung on a pulley 23 provided at both ends and a tension pulley 24 provided in the middle. It is a thing. By driving the driving pulley 23 of the belt conveyor 21, the sheet glass 2 is conveyed in a predetermined amount while being supported in contact with the belt 22 while only the lower end thereof is in contact with the belt 22 while maintaining the non-contact of both sides in the vertical state. Can do. If a belt with a crosspiece is used for the belt conveyor 21, even if cutting burrs or the like remain at the corners of the plate glass, the burr can be positioned between the crosspieces to prevent the plate glass 2 from being inclined on the belt conveyor 21. . As this support member, a similar effect can be obtained by using a roller conveyor, a traveling carriage (including a traveling receiving member), or the like.

  This state is a state in which the plate glass 2 is conveyed, and according to the carry-in machine 3, the plate glass carried in in a horizontal state is adjusted by adjusting the fluid pressure ejected from the fluid guide 8 so as to balance the weight of the plate glass 2. 2 is maintained vertically in a non-contact state with both surfaces, and the vertical weight of the plate glass 2 supported in the vertical direction is supported by the belt conveyor 21 of the structure at the lower end, regardless of the quality. The acting self-weight can maintain the non-contact state by the fluid ejected from the guide plate 10 of the fluid guide 8, and can convey the plate glass 2 in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer machine 4 is provided to follow the carry-in machine 3. Between the carry-in machine 3 and the transfer machine 4, a marking line forming machine 25 is provided that puts a vertical marking line at a predetermined position at the end of the plate glass 2. The transfer machine 4 is also provided with a fluid guide 26 on one surface of the plate glass 2 in the same manner as the carry-in machine 3. The fluid guide 26 maintains a state in which the plate glass 2 conveyed from the carry-in machine 3 is supported in a non-contact manner with the same angle maintained. Since the fluid guide 26 has the same configuration as the fluid guide 8 of the carry-in machine 3, the same configuration will be described with the same reference numerals.

  The fluid guide 26 is also provided with a guide plate 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) in which a plurality of fluid ejection holes 9 are provided on the support surface side of the plate glass 2, and the guide plate 10 is a frame 11 having a frame structure. Are supported by a level adjusting member 12 composed of bolts and nuts. Then, as described above, the plate glass 2 is supported in a non-contact state by the fluid ejected from the plurality of fluid ejection holes 9 provided in the guide plate 10.

  Similarly to the carry-in machine 3, this transfer machine 4 is supported by the fluid guide 26 in a non-contact manner with the glass plate 2 slightly inclined (for example, about 85 °), and the weight of the glass plate 2 is lowered at the bottom. It is supported at the lower end of the glass by the belt conveyor 27 provided (the details are the same as those of the belt conveyor 21 described above).

  In the carry-in machine 3 and the transfer machine 4, the other side (the anti-fluid guide side) of the glass sheet 2 is opened so that one surface of the glass sheet 2 is supported by the fluid guides 8 and 26. This is a preferable configuration when processing the plate glass 2 with a processing machine or the like.

  The posture change machine 5 is provided to follow the transfer machine 4. Between the transfer machine 4 and the attitude changing machine 5, there is provided a dividing machine 28 for dividing the end portion of the glass sheet by the marking line put on the end of the glass sheet 2 by the marking line forming machine 25. The carry-in machine 3 and the transfer machine 4 are configured such that the plate glass 2 is tilted at a predetermined angle (for example, about 85 °). The posture can be changed to a vertical state.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the posture changing machine 5 includes a fixed frame 29 provided on the gantry 7, and a movable frame 30 inclined at the same angle as the plate glass 2 conveyed from the transfer machine 4. Fluid guides 31 and 32 for ejecting fluid from the movable frame 30 toward both surfaces of the plate glass 2 are provided. The movable frame 30 is provided so as to be rotatable on the gantry 7 by a support member 34. A space between these fluid guides 31 and 32 is a conveyance line 150 for the plate glass 2. Further, a jack 33 is provided between the movable frame 30 and the fixed frame 29 for changing the movable frame 30 between an inclined state and a vertical state. The plate glass 2 conveyed between the fluid guides 31 and 32 while being inclined at a predetermined angle is temporarily stopped, and the movable frame 30 is set up vertically by the jack 33 so that the plate glass 2 is also set up vertically. It can be transported to the next device.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the fluid guides 31 and 32 are ejected from the fluid guides 31 and 32 so as to face both surfaces of the plate glass 2 that transports the passage space 35 formed on the transport line 150 between the fluid guides 31 and 32. Fluid ejection members 36 and 37 provided with holes 44 are provided. The fluid ejection members 36 and 37 are supported by a movable member 40 supported by an adjustment bolt 39 on a fixed member 38 provided on the movable frame 30. The movable member 40 is configured such that a gap 41 between the movable member 40 and the glass sheet 2 can be adjusted by adjusting an adjustment bolt 39. In the fluid ejection members 36 and 37, the support portion by the movable member 40 is a metal, and the support portion of the plate glass 2 is formed by a resin material or the like, and a plurality of continuous members in the horizontal direction are provided in the vertical direction. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, also in this posture change machine 5, both surfaces of the glass sheet 2 are supported in a non-contact state by the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection members 36 and 37, and the weight of the glass sheet 2 is provided in the lower part. It is supported at the lower end by a belt conveyor 42 (details are the same as the belt conveyor 21 described above).

  As described above, a structure in which the large and thin plate glass 2 is vertically oriented and the weight of the plate glass 2 is supported and conveyed at the lower end where the quality is not questioned, and both surfaces of the plate glass 2 requiring high quality are structured. The conveyance device 1 is configured by a mechanism that maintains a vertical posture in a non-contact state without touching an object and does not hinder the movement of the plate glass 2.

By the way, in embodiment mentioned above, the surface of the plate glass 2 is supported in the non-contact state by the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection hole 9 provided in the guide plate 10 or the fluid ejected from the fluid ejection members 36 and 37. However, the surface of the plate glass 2 may be supported in a non-contact manner by fluid pressure by another method.

  For example, instead of the guide plate 10 having a slight inclination in the longitudinal direction, a porous fluid guide plate (a porous material having the same shape as the guide plate 10) using a porous material is disposed. The liquid flows out from the fluid guide plate toward the surface of the plate glass 2 (it is possible to ooze out), and a fluid layer is formed between the plate glass 2 and the porous fluid guide plate by the surface tension of the fluid to give a predetermined The gap 19 (41) may be maintained. In this case, the type and amount of fluid to be flowed out are controlled so as to balance with the weight of the plate glass so that the plate glass 2 can be supported in a state where the predetermined gap 19 (41) is maintained. Even with such a configuration, only the lower end of the plate glass 2 is in contact with the structure, and the other portions can be conveyed in a non-contact state by the porous fluid guide plate of the support member.

  Furthermore, as another method, a gas nozzle that generates positive / negative pressure is arranged on the glass plate support side of the guide plate having a slight inclination in the vertical direction, and the gas jetted from the gas nozzle at a high speed is used. By balancing the negative pressure generated and the positive pressure generated by the gas ejected from the gas nozzle with the weight of the plate glass, the plate glass is sucked in a state where a predetermined gap is maintained between the plate glass and the gas nozzle. The plate glass may be supported in a non-contact state.

  As a method of supporting these plate glasses 2 in a non-contact manner, the fluid guides 8 and 26 may be provided on both sides or the fluid guide 31 (32) may be provided on one side depending on the support state of the plate glass 2, etc. In order to realize that both sides of the sheet are conveyed in a non-contact state, an optimum guide is selected as appropriate according to the ambient conditions (thickness and size of the glass sheet, processing content, arrangement, etc.) where the fluid guide should be provided. Any other non-contact fluid guide may be provided.

  FIG. 7 is a front view of a conveying apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IX-IX shown in FIG. 10 is a front view of the carry-in conveyor shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI shown in FIG. 12 is a plan view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 13 is a front view of the clamping device, FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV shown in FIG. 12, and FIG. is there. The conveying apparatus 51 of this 2nd Embodiment is comprised from the processing machine 52 which processes the edge part of the plate glass 2, and the unloader 53 which carries out the processed plate glass 2. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the processing machine 52 is provided with fluid guides 55 and 56 on both lower sides of the conveyance line 150 of the glass sheet 2, and a fluid guide 55 is provided on one upper side. As shown in FIG. 9, a fluid ejection member 57 is provided on the fluid line 55 side of the fluid guides 55 and 56. The fluid ejection member 57 has the same configuration as the fluid ejection members 36 and 37 described above, fluid ejection holes 44 are provided at predetermined intervals in the flow direction, and an adjustment bolt 59 is attached to a fixing member 58 provided in the frame 54. It is supported by an attached movable member 60. The movable member 60 can adjust the gap 61 between the movable glass 60 and the glass sheet 2 by adjusting the adjusting bolt 59. In the fluid ejection member 57, the support part by the movable member 60 is made of metal, and the support part of the plate glass 2 is made of a resin material or the like. A liquid flows out from the fluid ejection member 57 toward the surface of the plate glass 2 that conveys the conveyance line 150, and a predetermined gap 61 is maintained between the plate glass 2 and the fluid layer formed by the surface tension of the liquid. The surface of the plate glass 2 is supported in a non-contact state. As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment, only one side of the upper part of the plate glass 2 is supported by the fluid guide 55, but the non-contact state stabilized by the surface tension of the liquid by adjusting the amount of liquid to flow out. Realization of support in

  As shown in FIG. 7, also in the transport device 51 of the second embodiment, a belt conveyor that supports and transports the weight of the plate glass 2 at the lower end is provided at the lower portion of the transport line 150 (FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 10, the belt conveyor 62 provided on the upstream side of the processing machine 52 is provided with a plurality of pulleys 63, tension pulleys 64, and a belt 65 hung between these pulleys 63 and 64. It has been. A plurality of pushers 47 that push up the plate glass 2 to be conveyed from below are provided in the conveyance direction of the plate glass 2. The pusher 47 has a front end position (left end in the figure) of the plate glass 2 close to the processing machine 3 and a rear end position of the upstream plate glass 2 so that the pusher 47 can be pushed up at two positions in the front and rear even when the size of the plate glass 2 changes. Are provided at three locations. The pusher 47 at the rear end position is selectively used. The pusher 47 is a cylinder mechanism whose tip extends and contracts vertically, and is attached to a bracket 48 provided on the frame 54 as shown in FIG. This pusher 47 is used together with a clamping device 71 (FIG. 7) described later.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, on the downstream side (left side in the figure) of the belt conveyor 62, a belt composed of pulleys 68 provided at both ends and belts 69 hung on these pulleys 68. A conveyor 67 is provided. The belt conveyor 67 can convey a predetermined amount by driving the pulley 68 on the driving side while maintaining the non-contact state of the surface of the plate glass 2 while supporting the lower end of the plate glass 2 in a standing state.

  Further, between these belt conveyors 62 and 67, a processing tool 66 (for example, a grinding machine or a polishing machine) that performs processing such as polishing on the lower edge of the plate glass 2 conveyed between the belt conveyors 62 and 67 is provided. Is provided.

  In addition, the processing machine 52 according to this embodiment is configured so that the front and rear ends of the plate glass 2 are lightly clamped as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7 in addition to the conveyance of the plate glass 2 by the belt conveyors 62 and 67 at a predetermined speed. A clamping device 71 is provided for conveying with high accuracy.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the clamping device 71 has a claw member 72 that clamps the front and back of the glass sheet 2, and these claw members 72 are dimensioned according to the size of the long side and the short side direction of the glass sheet 2. An adjustment cylinder 73 for adjustment is provided. The claw member 72 is provided in a claw cylinder 74 that can be changed between a state where the claw member 72 is advanced from the side onto the conveyance line 150 of the plate glass 2 and a state where the claw member 72 is retracted from the conveyance line 150. The claw cylinders 74 are provided on separate moving members 75, and these moving members 75 are connected by the adjusting cylinder 73. By expanding and contracting the adjustment cylinder 73, the distance between the claw members 72 can be adjusted to the size of the plate glass 2. In this embodiment, the plate glass 2 is clamped by the claw member 72. However, a clamp member capable of sandwiching the plate glass 2 is provided instead of the claw member 72, and the outer peripheral portion of the glass that does not have any problem even if contacted is provided. A method of clamping may be used as long as the outer peripheral portion that does not have a problem even if the plate glass 2 is in contact is mechanically clamped.

  Further, a guide member 76 is provided on the side of the moving member 75 opposite to the claw member. The guide member 76 is configured to be movable in the conveying direction of the glass sheet 2 along a rail 77 provided on the frame 54.

  Further, the left claw member 72 shown in the figure is configured to sandwich the front-rear direction of the glass sheet 2 by the clamp cylinder 78. The adjustment cylinder 73 responds to a large change such as a change in the long side and the short side of the plate glass 2 and can be finally clamped by the clamp cylinder 78. It can be held stably.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a bracket 79 is provided on one side of the moving member 75, and a timing belt 81 is fixed to the bracket 79 by a fixing member 80. The timing belt 81 is hung on a pulley 82 (not shown) and a pulley (not shown) provided on the right side of the drawing. By rotating the pulley 82, the timing belt 81 is moved, whereby the bracket 79 is moved, and the claw member 72 is moved together with the moving member 75 in the conveying direction of the plate glass 2.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the pulley 82 is connected to a driven pulley 83 fixed on the frame 54 side by a shaft 84. The driven pulley 83 is connected to a driving pulley of a driving motor 85 as shown in FIG. 86. By numerically controlling the drive motor 85 with the control device 43 (FIG. 2), the claw member 72 sandwiching the front and rear of the plate glass 2 can be moved accurately and reliably at a programmed speed. In this embodiment, the timing belt 81 is used to accurately move the claw member 72. However, the claw member 72 may be accurately moved in a configuration such as a rack and pinion other than the timing belt 81.

  The conveyance of the plate glass 2 by such a clamping device 71 is performed as follows. When the sheet glass 2 is conveyed to the upper portion of the pusher 47 at the front end position by the belt conveyor 62 (FIG. 10), the plate glass 2 is pushed up by a predetermined amount by the pusher 47 at the front end position and the pusher 47 at the rear end position. At this time, the conveyance position of the plate glass 2 by the belt conveyor 62 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the push-up amount of the pusher 47 is controlled by the control device 43 (FIG. 2).

  Then, both ends of the vertical glass plate 2 pushed up from the belt conveyor 62 are clamped by the claw members 72 of the clamping device 71 (see FIG. 7), and the glass plate 2 is processed at a programmed predetermined speed by the clamping device 71. Transport to the tool 66 side. Since the sheet glass 2 is conveyed only by the sandwiching device 71 in this way, the lower end of the sheet glass 2 can always be conveyed at a programmed high speed at a fixed position, so that the processing tool 66 moves to the edge of the sheet glass 2. Can be stably performed. In addition, at this time, the glass plate 2 has a force to bend due to buckling or processing reaction force generated by the clamping device 71 due to fluid pressure such as water ejected from the fluid guides 55 and 56 provided on both lower surfaces. Since they are offset, it is possible to correct and prevent buckling and bending of the glass sheet 2 and perform accurate processing.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the lower end of the plate glass 2 can be stably conveyed in a non-contact state by the clamping device 71, the resistance reaction when the lower end of the plate glass 2 to be conveyed is processed by the processing tool 66. Power can be supported stably.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the liquid is made to flow out from the fluid ejection member 57 to the surface of the plate glass 2, the surface of the plate glass 2 is in a wet state, and cutting powder, particles, etc. due to processing adhere to the surface. Can be effectively prevented, and the surface can be transported with high quality.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the pusher 47 floats and conveys the lower end of the sheet glass 2 from the belt conveyor 62 is shown. However, depending on the processing content and conditions, the lower end of the sheet glass 2 is supported while being supported by the belt conveyor 62. May be.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the unloader 53 unloads the plate glass 2 sent from the processing machine 52 to the left side of the drawing, and is one side of the plate glass 2 sent in a vertical state. A fluid guide 78 is provided. The fluid guide 78 supports the glass sheet 2 with its surface tension by allowing the liquid to flow out from the liquid outflow holes 80 formed at predetermined intervals on the entire guide plate 79 provided on the frame 81 on the base 6. It is composed of. The guide plate 79 is also supported on the frame 11 by the level adjusting member 12 so that the plane can be adjusted.

  The belt conveyor 95 provided in the unloader 53 includes a pulley 96 provided at both ends, and a belt 97 hung on these pulleys 96. The conveyor 95 can also drive the plate glass 2 by a predetermined amount in a non-contact manner by driving the pulley 96 on the driving side while keeping the plate glass 2 upright and supporting the lower end.

  According to the transport device 51 configured as described above, the surface of the plate glass 2 that is transported in a vertical state can be supported and transported in a non-contact state by a fluid, so that the plate glass 2 is processed in a vertical state. Therefore, a preferable transport device 51 can be configured.

  In this embodiment, the support members of the transport drive device are constituted by belt conveyors 62, 67, and 95. However, these belt conveyors 62, 67, and 95 include roller conveyors and traveling carts (including receiving members that can travel). Other configurations such as

  On the other hand, in the first and second embodiments described above, when a failure (break, chipping, crack, etc.) occurs in the plate glass 2 in the transport device 1, 51, the size of the plate glass 2 is large and thin. Is very difficult to remove from the device due to the vertical attitude.

  Therefore, even if a malfunction occurs in the plate glass 2 by providing the above-described belt conveyors 21, 27, 42, 62, 67, 95 with a discharge mechanism that can be opened and closed downward, it is a transport unit at that position. If the belt conveyors 21, 27, 42, 62, 67, 95 are rotated downward, the portion supporting the dead weight of the plate glass 2 disappears. Can be discharged downward.

  In this case, a space having a height of about half or the same as the height of the glass sheet 2 is provided below the glass transport path line (the upper surface of the belt conveyors 21, 27, 42, 62, 67, 95). , 27, 42, 62, 67, 95, a belt conveyor 21, 27, 42, 62 is provided if a chute, a scrap glass case (receiver), etc. are provided for discharging the glass sheet 2 that has fallen from the conveying line when it is opened downward. , 67, 95 can be easily post-treated.

  In addition, the combination of each apparatus in embodiment mentioned above etc. is possible suitably, and should just respond according to process conditions etc.

  Further, the above-described embodiment is an embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

It is a front view of the conveying apparatus which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the plate glass carrying-in side of the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. It is the III section enlarged view shown in FIG. It is a front view of the III section enlarged view shown in FIG. It is a side view by the side of the plate glass carrying-out of the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. It is VI-VI expanded sectional view shown in FIG. It is a front view of the conveying apparatus which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is VIII-VIII sectional drawing shown in FIG. It is IX-IX expanded sectional drawing shown in FIG. It is a front view of the conveyor by the side of loading shown in FIG. It is XI-XI sectional drawing shown in FIG. It is a top view of the clamping apparatus shown in FIG. It is a front view of the clamping apparatus shown in FIG. It is XIV-XIV sectional drawing shown in FIG. It is a XV arrow line view shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Conveying device
2 ... Plate glass
3 ... Carry-in machine
4 ... Transfer machine
5 ... Attitude change machine
6 ... Base
7 ... Stand
8 ... Fluid guide
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Fluid ejection hole 10 ... Guide plate 11 ... Frame 12 ... Level adjustment member 13 ... Turning axis 14 ... Upper mount 15 ... Drive 16 ... Belt 17 ... Receiving member 18 ... Fluid 19 ... Gap 20 ... Fluid supply pipe 21 ... Belt conveyor 25: Marking line forming machine 26 ... Fluid guide 27 ... Belt conveyor 28 ... Divider 29 ... Fixed frame 30 ... Movable frame 31, 32 ... Fluid guide 33 ... Jack 34 ... Supporting member 35 ... Passing space 36, 37 ... Fluid ejecting member 41 ... Gap 42 ... Belt conveyor 43 ... Control device 44 ... Fluid ejecting hole 45 ... Receiving member 47 ... Pusher 48 ... Bracket 51 ... Conveying device 52 ... Processing machine 53 ... Unloading machine 54 ... Frame 55, 56 ... Fluid guide 57 ... Fluid ejection member 61 ... Gap 62 ... Belt conveyor 66 ... Processing tool 67 ... Belt conveyor 7 ... clamping device 72 ... claw member 73 ... adjustment cylinder 74 ... claw cylinder 75 ... moving member 76 ... guide member 77 ... rail 78 ... clamp cylinder 79 ... bracket 80 ... fixing member 81 ... timing belt 82 ... pulley 85 ... drive motor 86 ... Drive pulley 91 ... Fluid guide 92 ... Guide plate 93 ... Fluid outflow hole 94 ... Frame 95 ... Belt conveyor 96 ... Pulley 97 ... Belt 150 ... Conveyance line

Claims (10)

A conveying drive device that supports and conveys the lower end of the standing plate material, and supports the plate material in a non-contact state by applying fluid pressure to the entire surface of the standing plate material. A vertical conveying apparatus for a plate comprising a fluid guide and a control device for controlling the fluid pressure. The vertical conveying apparatus of the board | plate material of Claim 1 with which the said fluid guide is provided with the adjustment member which adjusts the guide surface which supports a board | plate material by non-contact to a plane. A change machine is provided for changing the state of the fluid guide between a substantially horizontal state and a vertical state at a predetermined angle, and a lower end of the plate member when the plate material supported in a substantially horizontal state by the fluid guide is set to a vertical state at a predetermined angle. The vertical conveying apparatus for a plate material according to claim 1, wherein the conveying driving apparatus is disposed at a position where the apparatus is supported. The vertical conveying apparatus of the board | plate material of Claim 1 comprised so that the said fluid guide may flow out water by predetermined pressure and the whole surface of the said board | plate material may be supported without contact. The fluid guide is formed of a porous material so that liquid flows out from the plate material side of the porous material, and the surface tension of the liquid and the weight of the plate material are balanced to support the surface of the plate material in a non-contact manner. The vertical conveying apparatus of the board | plate material of Claim 1 comprised. The fluid guide includes a gas nozzle that generates a positive pressure and a negative pressure on the surface of the plate material, and the plate material is not contacted by balancing the gas layer of the positive pressure and the negative pressure generated by the gas nozzle with its own weight. The vertical conveying apparatus of the board | plate material of Claim 1 comprised so that it might support. The vertical conveyance of the board | plate material of any one of Claims 1-6 provided with the discharge mechanism in which the said conveyance drive device opens and closes the conveyance part which supports the lower end of the said board | plate material, and discharge | releases a board | plate material below. apparatus. A fluid guide that applies fluid pressure to a standing plate material to support the plate material in a non-contact state with a structure; a clamping device that clamps the front and back of the plate material supported by the fluid guide; and the clamping device A plate-type vertical conveying apparatus comprising: a control device that conveys the sandwiched plate material at a predetermined speed. A transport drive device that supports and transports the lower end of the plate material supported in a state where it is stood by the fluid guide, and supports and transports the lower end of the plate material by the transport drive device; The plate type vertical conveying apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the vertical conveying apparatus can be changed to a state in which the lower end is lifted and the sheet holding apparatus conveys the front and rear of the sheet material. The vertical conveying apparatus of the board | plate material of Claim 9 provided with the discharge mechanism in which the said conveyance drive device opens and closes the conveyance part which supports the lower end of the said board | plate material, and discharge | releases a board | plate material below.

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