JP4032767B2 - Glass separation method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a glass separation method and apparatus for separating glass and a fixing member fixed to the glass.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various glasses are attached to window frames (fixed frames) and the like in automobiles, railway vehicles, airplanes, and the like. Such glass may be mechanically fixed to the fixed frame, but is often bonded with an adhesive. In the latter case, since the adhesive firmly connects the glass and the fixed frame, the glass cannot be easily removed from the fixed frame.
However, it may be necessary to remove the bonded glass from the fixed frame in order to recycle, dismantle, repair, repair, and replace the glass itself. In such a case, a method of cutting the glass itself and removing the remaining adhesive, a part of the glass and the like separately has been conventionally performed. However, in this method, when the glass is removed, glass fragments are scattered and the workability is poor. In addition, since the glass thus removed cannot be kept in its original form, it cannot be regenerated as it is, and can only be reused for other purposes after being separately pulverized. Therefore, this method cannot effectively recycle glass.
[0003]
Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-267627, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-320138, and the like disclose a method and an apparatus for removing glass in a non-destructive state. In these methods, a laser is irradiated from the glass side to the adhesive layer formed by the adhesive, and the adhesive interface between the glass and the adhesive layer is thermally destroyed (cohesive failure due to decomposition). Is removed, and the glass is removed. In particular, in the case of glass for automobiles, it is utilized that a laser is absorbed by a black ceramic portion fixed to the glass side to generate heat efficiently. As a result, the glass can be removed and recovered without breaking the glass.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the method disclosed in the above publication, the resin adhesive layer is deteriorated, the adhesive interface is thermally destroyed, and the adhesive layer is peeled off and separated from the glass. In this way, when the glass is removed from the fixed frame using the method, the black ceramic or the like that has become a laser absorber is still fixed and remains on the glass.
Such a black ceramic or the like is firmly fixed to the glass, and conventionally, it could not be easily peeled off unless a chemical or the like is used. For this reason, even if glass was collected using the above method, eventually, it took a lot of man-hours to peel off and remove the black ceramic and the like from the glass.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. That is, it is possible to easily separate a fixing member such as a black ceramic fixed to glass from the glass, and to provide a glass separation method and apparatus capable of further improving the glass removal workability and the glass recyclability. Objective.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the present inventors diligently researched to solve this problem, and as a result of repeated trial and error, irradiating a laser to the fixing interface between the glass and the fixing member, melting and resolidifying the glass in the vicinity thereof, It has been found that the fixing member can be easily separated from the glass, and the present invention has been completed.
(Glass removal method)
That is, the glass separation method of the present invention provides a glass body comprising a glass that transmits laser and a fixing member that is fixed to the glass and absorbs the laser and has a melting point higher than that of the glass. A laser irradiation step of irradiating the member with the laser to heat a fixing interface between the glass and the fixing member to melt the glass in the vicinity of the fixing interface, and re-solidification of the glass melted in the laser irradiation step. A fixing member embrittlement step for embrittlement of the member, and a separation step for separating the glass from the fixing member embrittled in the fixing member embrittlement step.
[0006]
According to the present invention, the fixing member fixed to the glass is embrittled by the fixing member embrittlement process. As a result, the fixing member that has been difficult to remove conventionally can be easily separated and removed from the glass. For this reason, for example, the operation of removing the fixing member from the glass and the operation of removing the glass from the fixed frame can be performed more easily. And it became possible to improve the recyclability of glass more than before.
[0007]
Here, the reason why the fixing member can be easily separated according to the present invention will be described below within the present understanding.
In the laser irradiation step, when the laser is irradiated to the fixing member, the fixing member absorbs the laser and generates heat to raise the temperature of the fixing interface between the glass and the fixing member. At this time, if the energy density and the like are adjusted by appropriately setting the output of the laser, the beam diameter (irradiation diameter), etc., only the glass near the fixing interface can be easily melted. At this time, since the fixing member has a higher melting point than glass, the fixing member does not melt prior to the glass.
When the laser irradiation is stopped, the molten glass is cooled by heat conduction or heat transfer and solidifies again. At the time of re-solidification, shrinkage stress acts on the fixing interface side of the glass. In accordance with the shrinkage stress, tensile stress mainly acts on the fixing interface side of the fixing member. Of course, in reality, various stresses are expected to act in various directions, but in any case, there is a stress sufficient to destroy the fixing member or its fixing interface due to melting and re-solidification of the glass. It is thought to act.
As a result, it seems that the fixing member becomes brittle at least at the fixing interface, and the glass and the fixing member are easily separated in the separation step after the fixing member embrittlement step.
[0008]
Thus, in the fixing member embrittlement step of the present invention, it is sufficient that the fixing member becomes brittle at the fixing interface, and the fixing member does not necessarily have to be peeled from the glass. For example, in the fixing member embrittlement step, it is sufficient that the vicinity of the fixing interface of the fixing member is cracked. This is because, even if it does not result in peeling, the fixing member can be easily peeled off from the glass to such an extent that it can be cracked.
Of course, if the kind of laser, the degree of irradiation, etc. are adjusted according to the characteristic of the fixing member, it is easy to peel the fixing member from the glass in the fixing member embrittlement process. And it goes without saying that the fixing member embrittlement step is preferably an embrittlement peeling step in which the fixing member is embrittled and peeled from the glass.
[0009]
(Glass separator)
The glass separation method of the present invention can be carried out using the following glass separation apparatus.
That is, a glass body comprising a laser generation source for generating a laser, a glass that transmits the laser, and a fixing member that is fixed to the glass and absorbs the laser and has a melting point higher than that of the glass, from the glass side. A laser irradiation means for irradiating the fixing member with the laser to heat a fixing interface between the glass and the fixing member to melt the glass in the vicinity of the fixing interface; and a glass melted by laser irradiation by the laser irradiation means. A glass separating apparatus comprising: a fixing unit that separates the glass from the fixing member embrittled when re-solidified.
[0010]
In addition, the transmittance | permeability with respect to the laser of glass and a fixing member said by this invention, and absorptivity are relative, Comprising: It has only to have the permeability | transmittance and absorptivity to the extent which can implement this invention. For example, even if it is glass, it is hardly possible to actually transmit 100% laser. Conversely, even if it is a fixing member, it is difficult to absorb 100% laser. What is important is that the fixing interface is heated by the laser irradiation, and the glass melts faster than the fixing member in that portion.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. In addition, what is described below is applicable to the glass separation method and the glass separation apparatus of the present invention as appropriate.
(1) Various laser lasers can be used. For example, various gas lasers, YAG lasers, semiconductor lasers (LD), and the like can be used. Further, in consideration of the material of the glass or the fixing member, the laser irradiation width (or fixing width), workability, etc., the type, wavelength, output, etc. of the laser may be appropriately selected.
For example, the wavelength of the laser to be used varies depending on the composition of the glass and the fixing member, but when separating the black ceramic (fixing member) fixed to the glass for automobiles, for example, 1000 to 1100 nm for the YAG laser and 800 for the semiconductor laser. It is good to set it to about -900 nm.
[0012]
In this case, the output of the laser varies depending on the beam diameter (irradiation diameter), but if the beam diameter is about several millimeters, the output may be about 200 to 400 W. Although it is related to the beam diameter and output of the laser, it is not always necessary to focus the laser on the fixed interface. Therefore, for example, it may be aligned with a position deeper on the fixing member side than the fixing interface. Also, the irradiation width can be controlled by adjusting the focal point.
In addition, it is necessary to continue to irradiate the laser to the fixing interface for at least the time for the glass near the fixing interface to melt, but the laser was continuously moved at an appropriate moving speed except at the start of irradiation. However, the glass can be melted along the trajectory. For example, in the case of irradiating the above-mentioned automotive glass with a laser (LD), the glass near the fixing interface can be sufficiently melted even if the moving speed is about 1 to 5 m / min.
The laser irradiation angle is preferably from the top of the glass toward the fixing member, but is not limited thereto, and the laser may be irradiated from an oblique direction. When the laser is irradiated from an oblique direction, even when an obstacle that blocks the laser exists directly on the glass, the laser can be appropriately irradiated to the fixing interface as long as the refractive index is taken into consideration.
[0013]
By the way, such a laser can be obtained from a laser generator (laser generation source) corresponding to the type. The obtained laser can be condensed by a lens via an optical fiber, for example, and irradiated to the fixing interface. The output of the irradiating laser can be adjusted by a laser adjusting unit provided in a laser generator or the like. In this case, the laser irradiating means referred to in the present invention is composed of an irradiating section composed of the optical fiber and lens and an adjusting section capable of adjusting the output and the like.
[0014]
In many cases, glass is fixed to a fixed frame by an adhesive or the like around a fixed member. Therefore, it is preferable that the laser irradiation unit includes a moving unit that can automatically move the laser irradiation position along the periphery of the fixing member. This moving means can be realized, for example, by causing the robot arm to hold the irradiation unit described above and moving the irradiation unit according to a program inputted in advance. The method of movement may be linear or zigzag. What is necessary is just to determine by relationship, such as the width | variety of a fixed interface, and the irradiation width of a laser.
Even if the fixing interface is wide, if the number of laser beams is increased, the workability can be improved by moving the laser irradiation section linearly. In addition, as the dedicated machine corresponding to the shape of the glass body and the work to which the glass body is attached is used, the workability is further improved and the working time can be shortened.
[0015]
(2) Glass In the present invention, various types of glass can be targeted. For example, typical examples thereof include glass for automobiles. There are many types of automotive glass, such as laminated glass used for front windows, tempered glass used for quarter windows, heat ray absorbing glass used for sunroofs, rear windows, etc. There are conductive glass and the like.
As described above, since glass having many types and shapes is difficult to dispose of in a simple manner, it is highly valuable to improve recyclability using the present invention. This is especially true when there are many expensive products such as automotive glass.
Of course, the glass referred to in the present invention is not limited to glass for automobiles, and may be glass used for railway vehicles or airplanes. Furthermore, it is not limited to a window glass of a moving body, but may be a fixed window glass of a building or the like.
[0016]
(3) Adhering member The adhering member is adhering to the glass, and absorbs the laser and generates heat at the adhering interface. And since the melting point of the fixing member is higher than the melting point of glass, the fixing member does not melt even if the glass melts. As a result, when the glass is re-solidified after melting, stress acts on the fixing member and the fixing member becomes brittle.
Examples of such fixing members include layered black ceramics printed on automotive glass. Black ceramic covers and conceals the adhesive that bonds the glass to the window frame (fixed frame), improves the appearance of the glass for automobiles, shields ultraviolet rays, and prevents deterioration of the adhesive. ing.
The components of the black ceramic are mainly composed of glass frit and ceramics such as bismuth oxide and zinc oxide, and are colored black by adding pigments and inks thereto. As the name implies, black ceramics are generally black, but as long as the present invention can be implemented, the color is not a problem. In other words, as long as the fixing member can absorb the laser at the fixing interface and generate heat to melt the glass, the exact color is not limited.
[0017]
(4) Others (1) The glass body as the object of the present invention may be either removed from the fixed frame or fixed to the fixed frame.
When the glass and the fixing member are separated from the glass body already removed from the fixed frame, the embrittled fixing member may be scraped off with a scraper or the like (separation step, separation means). Of course, if the fixing member is peeled off from the glass, they can be cleanly and more easily separated.
Also, if the glass body is in an adhesively fixed state to the fixed frame, after the fixing member at the fixing interface is embrittled by laser irradiation, the glass is removed from the adhesive or fixing frame from the fixing interface portion. (Removal process)
[0018]
Such removal can be performed manually by hand or automatically by a machine. For example, after the laser irradiation process, a suction cup (separation means) attached to the tip of an arm of a general-purpose robot can be adsorbed to the glass, and the glass can be removed (separation process) and transported. Of course, the same removal is possible not only for general-purpose robots but also for dedicated machines. The suction cup is preferably provided with an opening of an air suction pipe (or discharge pipe) inside so that the adsorption and desorption of the glass can be switched by controlling the atmospheric pressure inside the suction cup.
[0019]
(2) As an example, a case where an automotive glass bonded and fixed to a window frame (wind pillar) with an adhesive and a black ceramic interposed between the adhesive and the glass and spread on the glass are separated. Think.
As such an adhesive, a resin adhesive such as urethane (including a reactive agent such as a primer) is often used. This urethane-based adhesive firmly bonds the glass body to the window frame by urea bonding or the like, but when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher, it causes cohesive failure in the vicinity of the adhesive interface, and the window frame or black The adhesive force between the ceramic and the adhesive is lost. Once the interface breakage occurs, the temperature drops and the adhesive strength does not recover.
[0020]
Here, when laser irradiation is performed on the black ceramic on the adhesive as in the present invention, the adhesive itself is also heated, and the adhesive loses its adhesive strength as described above. As a result, not only the black ceramic and the glass but also the adhesive and the window frame can be easily separated. In particular, when the glass is to be removed from the window frame as described above, they can be performed simultaneously.
[0021]
(3) The separation of the glass and the fixing member in the present invention is effective not only when the automobile is disassembled and each part is recycled, but also when the automobile is repaired. In addition, the present invention is effective not only in the case of performing under a large dedicated facility such as an automobile dismantling factory but also in a case of performing in a small scale such as an automobile repair factory.
[0022]
【Example】
Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples.
(Glass separation method)
First, the glass separation method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
FIG. 1 schematically shows how a glass body is irradiated with laser from the glass side (laser irradiation step). Specifically, this glass body is a windshield glass for automobiles in which black ceramic is printed around the glass. More specifically, a laminated glass (total thickness: 4. mm ) in which an intermediate film (thickness 0.5 mm) such as polyvinyl butyral is sandwiched between two glasses (thickness 1.9 mm and 2.1 mm ). 5 mm).
[0023]
The black ceramic is a known ceramic having a width of 30 to 60 mm and a thickness of 0.03 mm obtained by mixing glass frit, bismuth oxide, zinc oxide, pigment and ink.
The melting point of this black ceramic is 1300 ° C., which is sufficiently higher than the melting point of the glass (650-700 ° C.) .
The irradiated laser is a semiconductor (diode) laser and has a wavelength of 808 nm (˜940 nm). Further, the focal point was adjusted so that the laser beam diameter was 4 mm on the fixing interface which is a boundary between the glass and the black ceramic. Furthermore, the laser moving speed was set to 2 m / min, and the laser was irradiated in a 50 mm linear section. Further, each test was performed by changing the output of the laser every 50 W in the range of 150 to 300 W.
[0024]
The test results thus performed are shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 2, in the case of this example, it became clear that the laser output was 200 W or more, and the black ceramic was embrittled (adhering member embrittlement step).
In FIG. 2, X indicates that the glass did not melt or that the black ceramic did not become brittle. The Δ mark indicates that the black ceramic was embrittled and cracked, but did not reach delamination. However, even in this case, the embrittled black ceramic was easily peeled from the glass with a force of scratching with a nail (separation process). A circle indicates that the glass has melted or that the black ceramic has peeled off from the fixing interface of the glass. Needless to say, it was confirmed that when the laser output was 250 W or more, the black ceramic was peeled off from the glass easily and cleanly by applying a natural force or light force (separation process).
[0025]
(Glass separator)
Next, FIG. 3 shows a glass removing apparatus 200 which is an embodiment of the glass separating apparatus according to the present invention.
The glass removing device 200 is a dedicated device for removing the window glass 230 for automobiles from the window frame 250 (fixed frame) of the body 251. The glass removing apparatus 200 includes a steel frame base 260 through which a steel plate body 251 placed on a carriage 261 can be inserted. A multi-axis joint type robot 210 (moving means) having a base fixed on a pedestal 212 is disposed on the side of the pedestal 260. A laser irradiation unit 220 (laser irradiation means) for irradiating the laser L is attached to the arm tip 211 of the robot 210. In addition, a flexible exhaust duct 223 is provided so as to cover the laser irradiation unit 220. The exhaust duct 223 is fixed to the slider 224 that slides on the rail of the gantry 260 and the arm of the robot 210. By this exhaust duct 223, gas and smoke generated by heating by laser irradiation are guided to the outside and processed.
[0026]
Further, a flexible optical fiber 222 extending from the semiconductor laser generator 225 (laser generation source) is connected to the laser irradiation unit 220 and is held by a slider 224.
According to this glass removing apparatus 200, the laser irradiation process can be performed automatically and efficiently. Further, if glass data for a plurality of vehicle types is stored in the control device of the robot 210, the locus of the laser irradiation unit 220 can be automatically changed according to the vehicle type.
[0027]
Next, the glass removal step after the laser irradiation step can be performed using, for example, a removal means as shown in FIG. In this example, a suction cup 213 is attached to an arm tip 211 of a robot 210 (glass removing means) so that the window glass 230 for an automobile can be removed and transported. The suction cup 213 includes an opening of a suction pipe connected to a negative pressure generator (not shown). Then, adsorption and desorption of the automobile window glass 230 can be switched by controlling the internal atmospheric pressure.
[0028]
In addition, an apparatus as shown in FIG. 5 may be used as a means for removing the glass. In this example, four suction cups 267 are attached to a slider 266 that can move on a rail 265 crossing the pedestal 260. In this case as well, the adsorption and desorption of the automotive window glass 230 may be performed by controlling the atmospheric pressure inside the suction cup 267.
Finally, the fixed relationship between the window glass 230 for an automobile and the window frame 250 will be described with reference to FIG.
The automobile window glass 230 shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by printing a black ceramic 232 on the lower layer of the glass 231. And the window glass 230 for motor vehicles is adhere | attached and fixed via the contact bonding layer 240 which consists of an adhesive agent on the window frame 250 (fixed frame) made from the steel plate.
[0029]
Here, the adhesive layer 240 is composed of a primer 241 on the window glass 230 side for automobiles, a primer 242 on the window frame 250 side, and a urethane adhesive 243 (urethane adhesive) interposed therebetween. As the components of the primers 241 and 242, appropriate ones are selected according to the components of the urethane adhesive 243. For example, when the urethane adhesive 243 is made of urethane prepolymer, isolamate and carbon, the primer 241 is made of silane coupling agent, MEK, ethyl acetate and carbon, and the primer 242 is made of isocyanate compound, ethyl acetate and carbon. . The components of the black ceramic 232 are as described above.
When this automotive window glass 230 is irradiated with laser L from the glass 231 side to the black ceramic 232, the fixing interface K between the glass 231 and the black ceramic 232 generates heat, and the lowermost surface of the glass 231 is melted. When the laser L is no longer irradiated, the fixing interface K is cooled, and the molten portion of the glass 231 is solidified again. Even when the glass 231 is melted and re-solidified only in a very narrow region near the fixing interface, the black ceramic 232 is sufficiently embrittled and can be easily separated.
[0030]
Under such circumstances, when the above-described removal process is performed, the automotive window glass 230 is removed from the window frame 250 at the fixing interface K.
Here, even if the fixing interface K and the adhesive interface A are destroyed by irradiating the laser L, the adhesive interface B is not necessarily destroyed. This is because the heat transfer coefficient of the adhesive layer 240 is generally low and the adhesive interface B does not reach thermal destruction. Therefore, if the laser irradiation conditions (irradiation energy, irradiation time, etc.) are set appropriately, it is possible to remove only the glass 231 while leaving the adhesive layer 240 on the window frame 250. On the contrary, if the laser is radiated strongly, the black ceramic 232 and the adhesive layer 240 can be separated as well as the adhesive layer 240 and the window frame 250 at the same time.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the glass separation method and the apparatus of the present invention, the fixing member can be easily and efficiently separated from the glass.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a glass separation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows test results when laser irradiation is performed with various changes in output.
FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing a glass removing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of glass removing means used in the glass removing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a view showing another example of the glass removing means used in the glass removing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a fixing relationship between an automotive window glass to be removed by using the glass removing device and a window frame to which the window glass has been fixed.
[Explanation of symbols]
230 Automotive window glass 231 Glass 232 Black ceramic 240 Adhesive layer 250 Wind frame (fixed frame)
L Laser K Fixed interface

Claims (4)

A glass body comprising a glass that transmits a laser and a fixing member that is fixed to the glass and absorbs the laser and has a melting point higher than that of the glass. A laser irradiation step of heating the fixing interface between the fixing member and the fixing member to melt the glass in the vicinity of the fixing interface;
A fixing member embrittlement step of embrittlement of the fixing member by re-solidification of the glass melted in the laser irradiation step;
A separation step of separating the glass from the fixing member embrittled in the fixing member embrittlement step;
A glass separation method comprising: The glass separation method according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member embrittlement step is an embrittlement peeling step in which the fixing member becomes brittle and peels from the glass. The glass separation method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the separation step is a removal step of removing the glass at a fixing interface from a fixing frame in which the glass is fixed by an adhesive via the fixing member. The glass separation method according to claim 1, wherein the glass is glass for automobiles, and the fixing member is black ceramic.

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