JP2008133174A - Glass ribbon producing apparatus and process for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To successfully decrease the thickness of glass ribbon without unreasonable speed-up of the flow-down rate of the glass ribbon. <P>SOLUTION: A glass ribbon producing apparatus 1 is adapted to feed molten glass Y to a molding member 2 and to cause the molten glass Y to flow downward from the molding member 2 so as to form sheetlike glass ribbon G and comprises a reheating means 5 disposed on a transport route for the glass ribbon G flowing downward from the molding member 2 so that the glass ribbon G is reheated by the reheating means 5 to thereby cause the sheet thickness of the glass ribbon G positioned inferior to the reheating means 5 to be smaller than that of the glass ribbon G positioned superior to the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to an improvement in a glass ribbon manufacturing technique by a so-called downdraw method in which molten glass is flowed down from a molded body to form a glass ribbon.

  As is well known, in the production of plate glass, a so-called downdraw method is known in which molten glass is flowed down from a molded body to form a glass ribbon that becomes a base plate of the plate glass. And an overflow down draw method (fusion method) and a slot down draw method. In the former overflow down draw method, molten glass continuously supplied to a molded body having a wedge-shaped cross-sectional shape is fused at the lower end of the molded body by flowing down from the top of the molded body along both side surfaces. In this method, the sheet-like glass ribbon formed in this form is made to flow down from the lower end portion of the formed body, and the finally solidified glass ribbon is formed. On the other hand, in the latter slot down draw method, the molten glass continuously supplied to the molded body is caused to flow down from a long hole-like slit formed at the bottom of the molded body to form a plate shape. In this method, after the plate-like glass ribbon is caused to flow down along the conveyance path, the finally solidified glass ribbon is formed. In addition, plate glass is extract | collected from a glass ribbon by isolate | separating the glass ribbon shape | molded by these methods into a predetermined magnitude | size.

In this type of downdraw method, various measures have been taken in recent years in order to form high-quality and high-quality glass ribbons. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, both end portions in the width direction of a glass ribbon formed by the downdraw method tend to be thicker than the intermediate portion in the width direction, and the difference in cooling rate due to the difference in the plate thickness. In order to solve the problem that the glass ribbon is distorted due to this, it has been proposed to take the following measures. That is, in a slow cooling furnace that slowly cools the glass ribbon that has flowed down from the molded body, a heat treatment means is arranged at a predetermined distance from the surface of the glass ribbon at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon, and the width of the glass ribbon is determined by such heat treatment means. It is disclosed that the glass ribbon is gradually cooled while slowing the cooling rate at the intermediate portion in the direction to suppress the variation in the temperature in the width direction of the glass ribbon. Further, the same document discloses that the glass ribbon is gradually cooled by a heater disposed immediately below the molded body so that the glass ribbon immediately after flowing down from the molded body is not rapidly cooled and contracted in the width direction. Has been.
JP 2001-31435 A

  By the way, in the downdraw method, when it is required to reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon, it is customary to deal with it by increasing the flow rate of the glass ribbon. That is, it is customary to meet the above-mentioned demand for thinning by drawing the glass ribbon flowing down from the molded body downward as quickly as possible.

However, the glass ribbon formed by the downdraw method is gradually solidified as it flows down from the molded body and moves downward. During this time, the thickness of the glass ribbon can be substantially reduced. It is only a limited region directly below the formed body in which the ribbon is in a softened state. That is, the thickness of the glass ribbon that has passed through the region does not substantially change although the glass ribbon may slightly vary locally when heat treatment such as slow cooling is applied to the glass ribbon. Therefore, once the glass ribbon is cooled (solidified) to some extent,
After that, since it becomes impossible to reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon, there is a limit to reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon even if the flow rate of the glass ribbon is increased. In particular, it is extremely difficult to form a glass ribbon having a thickness of 0.5 mm or less by such a method.

  In addition, if the flow rate of the glass ribbon is excessively increased, the flow rate of the unstabilized glass ribbon will be unreasonably increased, so the glass ribbon will be molded. The process tends to be unstable, and as a result, the thickness of the solidified glass ribbon tends to vary. Moreover, in order to increase the flow rate of the glass ribbon, it is necessary to pinch the glass ribbon by a tension means such as a roller and pull it down downward. May cause serious problems.

  Therefore, even if the flow rate of the glass ribbon is increased, it is practically impossible to stably form a thin glass ribbon, particularly a glass ribbon having a thickness of 0.5 mm or less.

  The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 discloses that when the glass ribbon is slowly cooled, a heat treatment means is disposed at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon. In this case, the thickness of the glass ribbon is not substantially reduced by the slow cooling by the heat treatment means because the cooling rate is reduced at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon. Further, the same document discloses disposing a heater immediately below the molded body, but this heater prevents rapid cooling of the glass ribbon and suppresses shrinkage in the width direction of the glass ribbon. Therefore, the thickness of the glass ribbon is not substantially reduced by the slow cooling with the heater.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to suitably reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon without unduly increasing the flow rate of the glass ribbon.

  The first apparatus according to the present invention, which was created to solve the above-described problems, is a glass ribbon that supplies molten glass to a molded body and flows the molten glass from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon. In the manufacturing apparatus, a reheating unit is provided on a conveyance path of the glass ribbon flowing down from the molded body, and the reheating unit reheats the glass ribbon, thereby reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon below the glass ribbon. It is characterized by being comprised so that it may become thinner than the plate | board thickness of the glass ribbon in upper direction.

  In a glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus, the temperature of the ribbon decreases as the glass ribbon flows down. The temperature of the glass ribbon is usually such that the temperature is lowered on a scheduled schedule by strict control by a temperature control means (such as a heater), and the temperature of the glass ribbon does not rise during the flow down. . On the other hand, in the present invention, the glass ribbon is reheated while flowing down so that the thickness of the glass ribbon becomes thinner. Here, “reheating” means increasing the temperature of the glass ribbon again to decrease the viscosity. According to such a manufacturing apparatus, the glass ribbon flowed down from the molded body is reheated by the reheating means, so that the glass ribbon below the glass ribbon is thicker than the glass ribbon above the reheating means. Since the plate thickness is reduced, it is possible to suitably reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon. That is, after reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon to a certain degree directly below the molded body, the thickness of the glass ribbon can be further reduced by the reheating means. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the plate thickness of the glass ribbon stepwise by dividing it directly below the molded body and directly below the reheating means, without unduly increasing the flow rate of the glass ribbon, It is possible to suitably reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon.

  Moreover, the 2nd apparatus which concerns on this invention created in order to solve the said subject supplies a molten glass to a molded object, and makes a molten glass flow down from this molded object, and shape | molds a plate-shaped glass ribbon. The glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus is characterized in that reheating means is provided for reheating and softening the glass ribbon once cooled while flowing down from the molded body.

  In the glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus, as described above, the temperature of the ribbon decreases as the glass ribbon flows down, and the temperature of the glass ribbon does not increase during the flow down. In contrast, in the present invention, the glass ribbon once cooled is reheated during the flow. Here, “cooled once” means that the temperature of the glass ribbon is lowered to increase the viscosity, and it is difficult to further reduce the plate thickness. “Reheating” means raising the temperature of the glass ribbon again to lower the viscosity. According to such a manufacturing apparatus, the glass ribbon once cooled while flowing down from the formed body is reheated by the reheating means to be in a softened state, and is drawn downward again. That is, the thickness of the cooled glass ribbon can be further reduced by reheating by the reheating means. Further, the cooled glass ribbon before being reheated by the reheating means is thinned to a certain degree directly below the formed body. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the plate thickness of the glass ribbon stepwise by dividing it directly below the molded body and directly below the reheating means, without unduly increasing the flow rate of the glass ribbon, It is possible to suitably reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon.

  Furthermore, the third apparatus according to the present invention, which was created to solve the above-mentioned problems, supplies molten glass to a molded body, and forms molten glass from the molded body to form a plate-like glass ribbon. In the glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus, the glass ribbon whose shrinkage in the width direction is regulated by the regulating means is directly repositioned directly below the regulating means that is provided directly below the molded body and regulates the shrinkage in the width direction of the glass ribbon. It is characterized by providing reheating means for heating and softening.

  In the glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus, as described above, the temperature of the ribbon decreases as the glass ribbon flows down, and the temperature of the glass ribbon does not increase during the flow down. In contrast, in the present invention, the glass ribbon is reheated immediately below the regulating means. Here, “reheating” means increasing the temperature of the glass ribbon again to decrease the viscosity. According to such a manufacturing apparatus, the glass ribbon is often cooled by the regulating means provided directly below the molded body, but this cooling is performed by the reheating means provided immediately below the regulating means. The glass ribbon is reheated to be softened and stretched downward again. That is, the plate thickness of the glass ribbon cooled by the reheating means in a state where the shrinkage in the width direction is restricted by the restriction means can be further reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the plate thickness of the glass ribbon stepwise by dividing it directly below the molded body and directly below the reheating means, without unduly increasing the flow rate of the glass ribbon, It is possible to suitably reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon.

  In this case, the restricting means may be constituted by a cooling roller that rotates while sandwiching both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon.

  In this way, the cooling roller plays a role as a supporting means for supporting the glass ribbon in addition to a role as a regulating means for regulating the shrinkage in the width direction of the glass ribbon. Can be suitably achieved.

  Said manufacturing apparatus WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said reheating means is comprised so that a glass ribbon may be reheated over the full width of a glass ribbon.

  If it does in this way, since a glass ribbon can be softened over the full width by a reheating means, it will become possible to achieve thickness reduction of a glass ribbon more suitably. In this case, it is preferable that the reheating means is configured so that the heating temperature can be adjusted along the width direction of the glass ribbon. In this way, since the softened state of the glass ribbon can be adjusted over the entire width, the displacement amount in the flow direction (vertical direction) of the glass ribbon due to reheating is made constant over the entire width of the glass ribbon. be able to.

  In the above manufacturing apparatus, a gap having a size larger than the thickness of the glass ribbon is provided in the thickness direction of the glass ribbon below the reheating means, and warping or displacement of the glass ribbon is regulated within the range of the gap. It is preferable to provide a guide means for guiding.

In general, the thinner the ribbon of the glass ribbon, the more easily the glass ribbon is warped and displaced (for example, swaying). However, even if such a situation occurs, the guide means Since the glass ribbon is guided in a state where the warpage or displacement is regulated by the gap, a part of the glass ribbon in the softened state is solidified while being deformed due to the warpage or displacement. Can be prevented.

  In the above manufacturing apparatus, it is preferable that the guide means is configured to guide only both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon.

  The glass ribbon formed by the downdraw method is usually obtained by cutting plate glass as a product from the intermediate portion in the width direction while cutting both ends in the width direction as ears. Therefore, in this way, since only the both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon to be cut out as the ear portion are guided, the glass ribbon is not obstructed without inhibiting the surface quality of the intermediate portion in the width direction where the plate glass is collected. It is possible to suppress overall warpage and displacement.

  In this case, the guide means may be constituted by a guide roller that rotates in a state of being opposed to each of both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon via a gap having a dimension larger than the thickness of the glass ribbon. preferable.

  If it does in this way, even if it is a case where it is a case where it guides a glass ribbon in the state where the guide means contacted the surface of the glass ribbon, it will become difficult to produce a contact flaw on the surface of the width direction both ends. Therefore, it becomes possible to form a glass ribbon having a thin plate thickness more stably.

  The first method according to the present invention, which was created to solve the above problems, is a glass ribbon that supplies molten glass to a molded body and forms molten glass from the molded body to form a plate-like glass ribbon. In the manufacturing method, the method includes a reheating step of reheating the glass ribbon flowing down from the molded body, and the glass ribbon is reheated in the reheating step, thereby heating the thickness of the glass ribbon after heating. It is characterized by making it thinner than the thickness of the glass ribbon in the front.

  According to such a manufacturing method, the same effects as those described in the paragraph [0011] described above can be enjoyed.

  In addition, the second method according to the present invention, which was created to solve the above-mentioned problems, supplies molten glass to a molded body and forms molten glass from the molded body to form a plate-like glass ribbon. The method for producing a glass ribbon is characterized in that it includes a reheating step of reheating and softening the glass ribbon once cooled while flowing down from the molded body.

  According to such a manufacturing method, the same effect as the matter described in the paragraph [0013] described above can be enjoyed.

  Furthermore, the third method according to the present invention, which has been created to solve the above-described problems, supplies molten glass to a molded body, and forms molten glass from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon. In the glass ribbon manufacturing method, immediately after the regulating step for regulating the shrinkage in the width direction of the glass ribbon immediately below the formed body, the glass ribbon whose shrinkage in the width direction is regulated in the regulating step is reheated and softened. Characterized by including a reheating step.

  According to such a manufacturing method, the same effect as the matter described in the paragraph [0015] described above can be enjoyed.

  In said manufacturing method, it is preferable to reheat a glass ribbon over the full width of a glass ribbon at the said reheating process.

  In this way, it is possible to enjoy the same operational effects as those described in the paragraph [0019] described above.

  In the above manufacturing method, the reheating of the glass ribbon in the reheating step is preferably performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the softening point of the glass ribbon. For example, in the case of non-alkali glass used as a display substrate for a liquid crystal display device or the like, it is desirable to perform at 1000 ° C. or higher, particularly 1000 to 1300 ° C.

  In this way, the portion of the glass ribbon that has flowed down from the molded body is heated to the softening point so that the glass ribbon can be made thinner more efficiently. It becomes.

  In said manufacturing method, it is suitable for the plate | board thickness of the width direction intermediate part of the glass ribbon after shaping | molding to be 1/2 or less of the plate | board thickness of the width direction intermediate part of the glass ribbon before the said reheating process. The “glass ribbon after molding” means a glass ribbon that has been sufficiently cooled and solidified to such an extent that the thickness does not decrease even when drawn downward (hereinafter the same).

  That is, according to the manufacturing method according to the present invention described above, it is possible to suitably respond to the recent demand for thin glass ribbons, and hence suitable for the demand for thin plate glass cut from the glass ribbon. It becomes possible to respond.

  In said manufacturing method, it is suitable that the plate | board thickness of the width direction intermediate part of the glass ribbon after shaping | molding is 0.5 mm or less, Furthermore, it is suitable that it is 0.2 mm or less.

  That is, according to the manufacturing method according to the present invention described above, recently, for example, a cover glass for a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS, a glass substrate for various flat panel displays typified by a liquid crystal display, and the like have been requested. It is possible to appropriately manufacture such a very thin plate glass.

  In the above manufacturing method, the glass ribbon reheated in the reheating step is passed through a gap provided in the guide means so as to have a dimension larger than the plate thickness, and the glass ribbon is within the gap. It is preferable to further include a guide process for guiding by regulating warpage or displacement.

  In this way, the same operational effects as those described in the paragraph [0021] described above can be obtained.

  In this case, it is preferable that only the both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon are guided by the guide means in the guide step.

  In this way, the same operational effects as those described in the paragraph [0023] described above can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon by reheating the glass ribbon that has been reduced to a certain thickness just below the molded body. And, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon step by step immediately below the molded body and immediately after reheating the glass ribbon, without unduly increasing the flow rate of the glass ribbon, It is possible to suitably reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal side view schematically showing an internal state of a glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal front view schematically showing the internal state of the manufacturing apparatus. is there. As shown in each of these drawings, this manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a molded body 3, a regulating means 4, a reheating means 5, and a guide means 6 in order from the top in a furnace 2 made of refractory bricks. I have.

  The molded body 3 has a wedge shape in cross section and has an overflow groove 3a at the top, and overflows the molten glass Y supplied to the overflow groove 3a from the top, and the overflowed molten glass Y It flows down along the both side surfaces 3b of the molded body 3 and is fused at the lower end portion 3c of the molded body 3 to form a plate shape, and the molten glass Y thus formed is formed into a plate-like glass ribbon G along the vertical direction. It is designed to flow down.

  The regulating means 4 regulates the thermal shrinkage in the width direction of the glass ribbon G directly below the molded body 3, and the molten glass Y flows down from the top of the molded body 3 along both side surfaces 3 b. This is constituted by a cooling roller (edge roller) 4a disposed so as to sandwich the glass ribbon G immediately after becoming a single plate by fusing at the lower end 3c. More specifically, a total of four cooling rollers 4a are disposed at each end in the width direction of the glass ribbon G, and the glass ribbon G is sandwiched between both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon G. It is designed to rotate at a rotational speed that is synchronized with the flow speed.

  The reheating means 5 reheats and softens the glass ribbon G that has been cooled while flowing down from the molded body 3. The reheating means 5 is arranged so as to face the front and back surfaces of the glass ribbon G through a space. The heater 5a is provided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the heater 5a is longer than the width direction dimension of the glass ribbon G, and the glass ribbon G is reheated and softened over the entire width of the glass ribbon G. It has become. Although not shown, the heater 5a is divided into a plurality of pieces along the width direction of the glass ribbon G, and the heating temperature is set in the width direction so that the softened state of the glass ribbon G is substantially equal in the width direction. In this configuration, it can be controlled individually. In this embodiment, similarly to the cooling roller 4a disposed immediately below the molded body 3 described above, the glass ribbon G reheated by the heater 5a is also directly below the heater 5a in the width direction. A cooling roller 4b is provided as a restricting means for restricting heat shrinkage. The cooling roller 4b has the same configuration as the cooling roller 4a described above, and rotates while sandwiching both ends in the width direction of the reheated glass ribbon G.

The guide means 6 has a gap having a dimension larger than the thickness of the glass ribbon G in the thickness direction of the glass ribbon G, and guides the glass ribbon G by regulating warpage or displacement within the gap. . The guide means 6 may be constituted by, for example, plate-like members arranged opposite to each other by a gap having a dimension larger than the thickness of the glass ribbon G. In the present embodiment, both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon G are used. Each part is constituted by a guide roller 6a that rotates in a state of being opposed to each other through a gap having a dimension larger than the thickness of the glass ribbon G (the thickness at both ends in the width direction). And it is preferable to set the opposing space | interval (alpha) of the guide roller 6a which opposes the thickness direction of this glass ribbon G to 10 mm or less, especially 5 mm or less. In addition, although the lower limit of this opposing space | interval (alpha) is suitably adjusted with the plate | board thickness etc. of the width direction both ends of the glass ribbon G, it is 0.2 mm or more, for example, It is preferable that it is especially 1 mm or more. Further, a total of four guide rollers 6a arranged in pairs at each end in the width direction of the glass ribbon G in this way, when viewed in the transport direction of the glass ribbon G, It is disposed at a plurality of locations (three locations in the vertical direction in the illustrated example). Each guide roller 6a is rotated at a rotation speed corresponding to the flow speed of the glass ribbon G. In addition, when the guide roller 6a is arrange | positioned in the several places of the conveyance direction of the glass ribbon G, the lowermost guide roller 6a clamps the glass ribbon G by narrowing the opposing space | interval (alpha) as needed. However, it may be used as a pulling roller that is pulled downward.

  According to the manufacturing apparatus 1 having the above configuration, the glass ribbon G is manufactured as follows.

  First, the glass ribbon G immediately after flowing down from the lower end portion 3c of the molded body 3 is stretched downward while the shrinkage in the width direction is restricted by the cooling roller 4a, and is thinned to a certain thickness (hereinafter referred to as initial thickness). That is, the glass ribbon G is cooled by the cooling roller 4a and the atmosphere in the furnace 2 and approaches a solidified state, and no substantial variation in the plate thickness occurs when the glass ribbon G reaches the initial thickness. Next, the glass ribbon G that has been once cooled and has reached the initial thickness is softened by being reheated by the heater 5a. By reheating the glass ribbon G in this manner, the glass ribbon G once cooled is stretched downward again, and the thickness of the glass ribbon G becomes further thinner than the initial thickness. Specifically, the plate thickness of the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon G reheated by the heater 5a finally becomes, for example, ½ or less of the initial thickness of the intermediate portion in the width direction.

  If it does in this way, since the plate | board thickness of a glass ribbon will be divided in steps just under the molded object 3 and the directly lower part of the heater 5a, and it will become thin in steps, the flow-down speed | rate of the glass ribbon G will be unreasonably increased. Without reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon G, the thickness can be suitably reduced. The reheating by the heater 5a is performed over the entire width of the glass ribbon G at a temperature equal to or higher than the softening point of the glass ribbon G (for example, 1000 to 1300 ° C.), and the softened state of the glass ribbon G in the width direction. The heating temperature is adjusted in the width direction so as to be uniform. Therefore, since the variation in the amount of displacement in the conveyance direction of the glass ribbon G is less likely to occur due to reheating by the heater 5a, it is possible to accurately reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon G.

  Further, by reheating the glass ribbon G as described above, the glass ribbon G having a plate thickness of 0.5 mm or less, and further a plate thickness of 0.2 mm or less can be easily manufactured. Thus, the extremely thin glass ribbon G can be suitably used as a cover glass for a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS, or a glass substrate for various flat panel displays typified by a liquid crystal display.

  Further, the glass ribbon G whose thickness is reduced by the reheating by the heater 5a has a gap between the guide rollers 6a arranged opposite to each other through a gap having a dimension larger than the thickness of the both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon G. Guided down through. Generally, as the plate thickness of the glass ribbon G becomes thinner, the glass ribbon G flowing down from the lower end portion 3c of the molded body 3 is more likely to be warped or displaced due to shaking or the like. By passing through the gap of the roller 6a, the guide is performed while the warpage and displacement are regulated within the gap. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a part of the glass ribbon G in a softened state such as immediately below the molded body 3 or directly below the heater 5a is solidified while being affected by warpage or displacement. It becomes possible to manufacture the glass ribbon G excellent in flatness. In addition, since each guide roller 6a is rotating at a rotational speed corresponding to the flow speed of the glass ribbon G, even when the glass ribbon G contacts the guide roller 6a, the glass ribbon G moves downward. You will be guided smoothly.

  Further, the cooling rollers 4a and 4b and the guide roller 6a are in contact with only both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon G on the conveyance path of the glass ribbon G flowing down from the lower end 3c of the molded body 3, and are intermediate in the width direction. Since the portion is not contacted, high surface quality is maintained at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon G. And when collecting plate glass from the finally solidified glass ribbon G, it is usual that the width direction both ends of the glass ribbon G are excised as an ear | edge part, and plate glass is extract | collected from the width direction intermediate part. Therefore, a thin plate glass having a high surface quality (for example, a plate glass having a plate thickness of 0.5 mm or less) can be produced. Further, by disposing the cooling rollers 4a and 4b as restricting means immediately below the molded body 3 and directly below the heater 5a, the reduction in the width dimension of the glass ribbon G can be restricted. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the glass ribbon G while ensuring a large width-direction dimension of the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon G from which the plate glass is collected.

  In the embodiment described above, the reheating means is disposed at one place on the conveyance path of the glass ribbon. However, if necessary, the guide means from the restricting means disposed directly below the molded body. A plurality of reheating means may be arranged at intervals in the vertical direction on the glass ribbon conveyance path leading up to.

  Furthermore, although the said embodiment applied this invention to the glass ribbon shape | molded by the overflow downdraw method, in addition to this, this invention is applied similarly to the glass ribbon shape | molded by the slot down draw method, for example. be able to.

It is a schematic longitudinal side view which shows the manufacturing apparatus of the glass ribbon which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the said manufacturing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Manufacturing apparatus 2 Furnace 3 Forming body 4 Control means 4a Cooling roller 5 Reheating means 5a Heater 6 Guide means 6a Guide roller Y Molten glass G Glass ribbon

Claims (17)

In the apparatus for manufacturing a glass ribbon, the molten glass is supplied to the molded body, and the molten glass is caused to flow down from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon.
Reheating means is provided on the conveying path of the glass ribbon flowing down from the molded body, and the reheating means reheats the glass ribbon, thereby reducing the thickness of the glass ribbon below the glass ribbon. An apparatus for producing a glass ribbon, characterized in that the apparatus is configured to be thinner than the plate thickness. In the apparatus for manufacturing a glass ribbon, the molten glass is supplied to the molded body, and the molten glass is caused to flow down from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon.
An apparatus for producing a glass ribbon, comprising a reheating means for reheating and softening the glass ribbon once cooled while flowing down from the molded body. In the apparatus for manufacturing a glass ribbon, the molten glass is supplied to the molded body, and the molten glass is caused to flow down from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon.
Reheating for softening by reheating the glass ribbon, which is provided directly below the molded body and restricts the shrinkage in the width direction of the glass ribbon, and the shrinkage in the width direction is restricted by the restricting means. An apparatus for producing a glass ribbon, characterized in that means is provided.   The said regulation means is comprised with the cooling roller rotated while pinching | interposing the width direction both ends of a glass ribbon, The manufacturing apparatus of the glass ribbon of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The said reheating means is comprised so that a glass ribbon may be reheated over the full width of a glass ribbon, The manufacturing apparatus of the glass ribbon in any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned.   Below the reheating means, there is a guide means that has a gap in the thickness direction of the glass ribbon that is larger than the thickness of the glass ribbon, and guides the glass ribbon with warpage or displacement within the gap. The glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus is provided.   The glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the guide means is configured to guide only both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon.   The guide means is constituted by a guide roller that rotates in a state of being opposed to each of both end portions in the width direction of the glass ribbon through a gap having a dimension larger than the thickness of the glass ribbon. The apparatus for manufacturing a glass ribbon according to claim 7. In the method for producing a glass ribbon, the molten glass is supplied to the molded body, and the molten glass is allowed to flow down from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon.
A reheating step of reheating the glass ribbon flowing down from the molded body, and reheating the glass ribbon in the reheating step, so that the thickness of the glass ribbon after the heating is reduced. A method for producing a glass ribbon, wherein the glass ribbon is made thinner than a plate thickness. In the method for producing a glass ribbon, the molten glass is supplied to the molded body, and the molten glass is allowed to flow down from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon.
A method for producing a glass ribbon, comprising a reheating step of reheating and softening the glass ribbon once cooled while flowing down from the molded body. In the method for producing a glass ribbon, the molten glass is supplied to the molded body, and the molten glass is allowed to flow down from the molded body to form a plate-shaped glass ribbon.
Immediately after the regulating step for regulating the shrinkage in the width direction of the glass ribbon immediately below the molded body, a reheating step for reheating and softening the glass ribbon whose shrinkage in the width direction is regulated in the regulating step is included. A method for producing a glass ribbon characterized by the above.   The method for producing a glass ribbon according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein in the reheating step, the glass ribbon is reheated over the entire width of the glass ribbon.   The method for producing a glass ribbon according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the reheating of the glass ribbon in the reheating step is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than a softening point of the glass ribbon.   14. The thickness of the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon after molding is ½ or less of the thickness of the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon before the reheating step. The manufacturing method of the glass ribbon of crab.   The method for producing a glass ribbon according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein a thickness of the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glass ribbon after forming is 0.5 mm or less.   The glass ribbon reheated in the reheating step is passed through a gap provided in the guide means so as to have a size larger than the plate thickness, and warpage or displacement of the glass ribbon is regulated within the gap. The glass ribbon manufacturing method according to claim 9, further comprising a guiding step for guiding the glass ribbon.   The method for producing a glass ribbon according to claim 16, wherein, in the guiding step, only the both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon are guided by the guide means.

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