JP4258270B2 - Sheet glass manufacturing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a plate glass manufacturing method and apparatus, and more specifically, a technique for preventing glass chipping generated when a formed plate glass is divided into a product part and an unnecessary part from adhering to the product part. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, when manufacturing a glass panel such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example, a technique in which a plurality of glass panels are made from a single glass sheet has been adopted. Along with this, it is the present situation that the glass plate that is molded and processed by the glass maker is being promoted.
[0003]
In detail, at the initial stage of practical mass production, the size of the base plate glass was about 300 × 400 mm size, but after that, with the increase in the number of glass panels taken, 370 × 470 mm size, 550 × 650 mm size The size of the plate has been increased to a size of 680 × 680 mm, etc., and a base plate glass having a size of about 1000 × 1200 mm has now been manufactured.
[0004]
In the production of this type of plate glass (element plate glass), the peripheral portion of the edge is divided and removed from the product portion by folding or the like because a deformed portion is formed on the edge during molding. As described above, when the plate glass is divided into the product portion and the unnecessary portion, immediately after the division, glass chipping made of glass pieces or glass powder is generated in the divided portion of both portions. It causes a situation where it adheres to the product part, and becomes a factor of reducing the commercial value of the plate glass.
[0005]
That is, the surface of this type of glass sheet is required to have a high degree of cleanliness or the like, but glass chipping adheres as described above due to the division. During the packing operation, the surface of the plate glass is scratched, and the occurrence probability of a defective product due to adhesion remaining of glass chipping is increased, or the product value is lowered.
[0006]
In order to cope with such a problem, according to the following Patent Document 1, a technique for preventing direct attachment of glass chipping to the plate glass surface by sticking a protective film to the front and back surfaces of the plate glass is disclosed. Yes. Moreover, according to the following patent document 2 as a technique relevant to this, it has the nozzle which moves along a plate glass surface in the state which is not in contact with plate glass, and it comprised so that a glass chip might be attracted | sucked by this nozzle. A glass scribe cutting and removing device is disclosed.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-86296 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2-296743
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, according to the technique of sticking a protective film to the plate glass surface, the protective film is attached to the plate glass in the previous stage of the cutting step (dividing step), and before the subsequent finishing step. In addition, it is necessary to remove the protective film, which complicates troublesome and complicated work. In addition, after removing the protective film, the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive remains on the surface of the plate glass, which makes it difficult to handle during storage in a laminated state and may cause a decrease in product value.
[0009]
On the other hand, the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 is not intended for glass chipping that occurs when a plate glass is divided, and glass that is generated at the time of engraving while engraving a cutting line on the surface of the plate glass as the nozzle moves. The configuration is such that the chips are sucked by the nozzle, which is different from the present invention. However, even if the method of sucking glass chips by the nozzle disclosed in the same document is applied to a countermeasure against glass chipping that occurs when the plate glass is divided, the following problems occur.
[0010]
That is, since the nozzle disclosed in the document moves along the cutting line while being separated from the plate glass surface, the entire periphery of the nozzle tip is open to the outside air, which is the cause. Thus, in order to suck the glass chipping by the nozzle, an extremely large suction force is required.
[0011]
For this reason, in order to suck the glass chipping generated when the plate glass is divided at the same time as the generation, if a large suction force is applied by the nozzle before the plate glass is divided, an unreasonable external force acts on the plate glass. Then, due to this external force, a problem such as division is performed in a state where the plate glass is deformed, and the probability of occurrence of division failure increases. Such a problem becomes particularly noticeable when a thin plate glass such as a base plate glass for a liquid crystal display is divided.
[0012]
Moreover, in order to prevent scattering of glass chipping and adhesion to the plate glass surface using such a movable nozzle, it is necessary to instantaneously move the nozzle along the divided portion simultaneously with the division of the plate glass. However, it is substantially impossible to suck all the glass chipping without leaving it while moving the nozzle. Therefore, it is impossible to prevent the glass chipping from adhering to the plate glass surface.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of reliably recovering glass chipping generated at the time of dividing a plate glass without requiring troublesome and complicated work, and prevents the occurrence of glass chipping due to residual adhesion of glass chipping. The technical challenge is to suppress the occurrence of non-defective products and the decline in product value.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The method according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above technical problem, is a method of manufacturing a plate glass including a step of recovering glass chipping generated in the divided portion immediately after dividing the plate glass along the divided base line. Then, by covering the divided base line of the plate glass with a covering member over the entire length, a gas flow space is formed in the peripheral region of the divided base line, and then the plate glass is divided along the divided base line and the gas flow The glass chipping is collected by a gas flowing through the space.
[0015]
In this case, the time when the gas flow is generated in the gas circulation space may be simultaneously with, or just before or immediately after, covering the above-described portion of the plate glass with the covering member, or simultaneously with dividing the plate glass or It may be immediately before or just after that. Further, regarding the positional movement of the plate glass and the covering member, it is preferable to place the covering member in a fixed position and move the plate glass. On the contrary, the plate glass is held in a fixed position. The covering member may be moved, or both of them may be moved.
[0016]
According to such a configuration, prior to the division of the plate glass, the division base line (for example, the cutting line engraved in the previous process) which is a division portion of the plate glass is covered with the covering member over the entire length and divided. A gas circulation space is formed in the peripheral region of the base line (the peripheral region including the divided base line, and so on). Thereby, the peripheral area | region of the division | segmentation base line of plate glass will be in the state covered with the gas distribution space interrupted | blocked or substantially interrupted | blocked with external space. Under such a state, the plate glass is divided along the dividing base line by folding or the like, and accompanying this, glass chipping occurs at the dividing portion. At the time of occurrence of this glass chipping, since the gas flows in the gas circulation space, the glass chipping is transported without dropping due to the gas flow. Therefore, the glass chipping is discharged to the outside, for example, and collected after flowing in the gas flow space without adhering to the product portion of the divided plate glass.
[0017]
In this way, by covering the entire length of the split base line of the plate glass, a gas flow space extending from one end edge of the plate glass to the other end edge along the split base line is formed in the peripheral region. Glass chipping can be collected by simply generating a gas flow in the gas circulation space, and suctioning the glass chipping while moving the nozzle as in the device disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above. This eliminates the need for complicated and complicated operation and control. Moreover, with such a configuration, the glass chipping can be reliably recovered if a gas flow is generated in the gas circulation space for a short time, and the suction force is extended for a long time as in the case of moving the nozzle described above. This reduces the burden imposed on the airflow generation means (for example, suction force generation means) for generating a gas flow in the gas circulation space, and reduces the cost required for driving the airflow generation means. Further, by blocking or substantially blocking the gas circulation space from the external space, the inside of the gas circulation space is appropriately kept airtight, so that a force necessary for generating a sufficient gas flow in the gas circulation space (for example, (Suction force) can be reduced. In addition, it is preferable to make the inside of the gas circulation space a clean atmosphere without glass chipping after the glass glass chipping generated at this time is carried and collected after the plate glass is divided once. .
[0018]
In this case, it is preferable that the gas flows in the gas circulation space from the inflow port existing on one end side of the divided base line of the plate glass toward the suction port existing on the other end side.
[0019]
In this way, since the gas flows in one direction along the dividing base line of the plate glass, the flow direction of this gas coincides with the longitudinal direction of the existence region of the glass chipping generated along the dividing base line (dividing part). Will do. As a result, the gas can be reliably recovered by transporting the glass chipping without waste. Here, the “inlet” means an opening provided in the covering member and through which gas (for example, air) flows from the external space into the gas circulation space, and the “suction port” means the covering. It means an opening provided in the member for sucking the gas in the gas circulation space to the outside (external space). Therefore, in the gas circulation space, the inlet and the suction port are open to the external space, but the outer periphery of the gas flowing through the gas circulation space is blocked or substantially blocked from the external space.
[0020]
On the other hand, an apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above technical problem, is a sheet glass provided with a recovery device that recovers glass chipping generated in the divided portion immediately after dividing the plate glass along the divided base line. A recovery device for recovering the glass chipping, a covering member that forms a gas flow space in a peripheral region of the split base line by covering the split base line of the plate glass over the entire length. An airflow generating means for generating a gas flow in the gas circulation space.
[0021]
Even with such a configuration, glass chipping is caused by the gas flowing in the gas circulation space, in which the split base line of the plate glass is covered with the covering member over the entire length and the gas circulation space is formed in the peripheral area of the division baseline. Taking into account the fact that it is transported and recovered without falling, the same effect as the above-described method according to the present invention can be obtained by having these two points. In this case, the recovery device includes an airflow generating means for generating a gas flow for recovering the glass chipping in the gas circulation space. The airflow generation means, for example, uses the suction force to draw the gas in the gas circulation space. It can be constituted by a suction means for drawing out or a blowing means for releasing the gas to the outside by a pumping force.
[0022]
In this case, the covering member is composed of a box-like body that covers the front side and the back side of the plate glass, and the box-like body sucks the gas in the gas circulation space to the outside, It can be set as the structure which provides the inflow port which flows in gas into gas distribution space from the exterior by the attraction | suction force which generate | occur | produces at a suction port. When such a configuration is adopted, the plate glass is preferably held in a horizontal posture, but may be held in a vertical posture. Moreover, it is preferable that the box-shaped body has covered the division | segmentation base line of plate glass, and the site | part which reaches the edge of the unnecessary part side from this division | segmentation base line in bag shape.
[0023]
In this way, suction is performed in which the gas in the gas circulation space, which is the internal space of the box-shaped body, is generated at the suction port in a state where the front side and the back side including the split base line of the plate glass are covered with the box-shaped body. While being sucked outward by force, a clean (fresh) gas flows into the gas circulation space from the inlet. As a result, a clean gas flow is generated inside the box-like body, and the glass chipping is collected at a predetermined location on the suction port side along this flow. By performing such an operation once, it is preferable that there is no glass chipping in the gas circulation space. If so, the next recovery of glass chipping is a flow of clean gas. Is done by.
[0024]
And it is preferable that the said suction port and inflow port are each formed in the one end side and other end side of the division | segmentation base line of plate glass.
[0025]
If it does in this way, the flow direction of the gas along the division | segmentation base line of a plate glass will correspond with the longitudinal direction of the generation | occurrence | production area | region of the glass chipping along a division | segmentation base line (division | partition part), It already mentioned in connection with this. You can enjoy the same effects as the matter.
[0026]
In addition, the box-like body has two box portions separated so as to be capable of phase approach and phase separation, and when the two box portions approach each other, a plate glass insertion portion of the box-like body and It is preferable that the plate glass insertion portion and the bottom portion are opened when the bottom portion is in a closed state and separated from each other.
[0027]
In this way, when the two box parts are separated from each other, the plate glass before the division is inserted into the plate glass insertion part in the open state, whereas when the two box parts approach each other, For example, the plate glass is sandwiched between the two box portions, the plate glass insertion portion is closed, and the glass chipping is collected. In addition, the bottom of the box-like body stores an unnecessary portion after the division of the plate glass when the two box portions are closed close to each other, and when the two box portions are separated and opened. Then, the unnecessary part of the plate glass is discharged to the outside. Therefore, it is preferable that the discharge side of the bottom surface of one box portion is inclined downward for the purpose of dropping an unnecessary portion of the plate glass by its own weight.
[0028]
In addition, the apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the covering member, instead of including the box-shaped body described above. A pair of base materials disposed on both sides of the front and back surfaces so as to sandwich the plate glass; Each front edge contacts the front and back surfaces of the glass sheet And each base end portion is attached to the pair of base materials at positions separated from the front and back surfaces of the plate glass. And a pair of flexible lip sheets When With The space surrounded by the pair of base materials and the pair of lip sheets is a gas flow space, and A suction port for sucking the gas in the gas circulation space toward the outside is formed on one end side in the direction along the leading edge of the lip sheet, and the gas circulation space from the outside by the suction force generated at the suction port on the other end side It can be set as the structure which formed the inflow port which makes gas flow in into. When such a configuration is adopted, the plate glass is preferably held in a vertical position, but may be held in a horizontal position.
[0029]
In this way, the respective leading edges of the pair of flexible lip sheets are in contact with the front and back surfaces of the plate glass, Each base material Between Sheet glass A pair of gas circulation spaces are formed to cover the divided baseline from the front side and the back side, respectively. Accordingly, the edge of the glass sheet (the edge on the unnecessary portion side) is exposed to the external space from each lip sheet. And from the inflow port formed on the other end side toward the suction port formed on one end side in the direction along the front end edge of each lip sheet (the longitudinal direction of the contact edge between the front end edge and the plate glass surface) While the gas is flowing, the plate glass is divided and the glass chipping is transported and collected on the gas. In this case, the base end of each lip sheet Part Is , Board At a position away from the front and back of the glass Attached to a substrate, which is Rigid than each lip sheet But High Iko In addition, it is preferable that the base material sandwiches the glass sheet without a gap or substantially without a gap, and in such a case, a split base line of the glass sheet is provided between the base material and the edge of the lip sheet. The Existence Can be . And since each lip sheet has flexibility, the front edge of each lip sheet is in contact with both the front and back surfaces of the plate glass before and after the division of the plate glass, thereby holding the plate glass. At some point, it is possible to form a closed or substantially closed gas flow space inside each lip sheet, and after partitioning, unnecessary portions of plate glass (unnecessary portions sandwiched between the lip sheets) are exposed to the outside. Even after extraction, the gas circulation space can be closed or substantially closed. Thereby, the inside of gas distribution space can always be maintained in a clean state.
[0030]
In this case, it is preferable that the front end edge of each lip sheet is arranged so as to extend in a direction parallel to the divided base line of the plate glass.
[0031]
In this way, since the suction port is provided on one end side of the split base line of the plate glass and the inflow port is provided on the other end side, the gas flow direction along the split base line of the plate glass and the split base line The longitudinal direction of the region where the glass chipping occurs along the (dividing part) coincides, and it is possible to enjoy the same effects as the matters already described in relation to this.
[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a plate glass manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing the operation of the manufacturing apparatus.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1, a recovery device 2 that is a component of the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention covers a divided base line GL of a sheet glass G and has a gas distribution space 3 inside. The box-shaped body 4 is provided. Here, the divided base line GL is a line that becomes a reference when the plate glass G is divided into the product portion Ga and the unnecessary portion Gb by folding, and is, for example, engraved as a linear straight groove. . 1 shows a state immediately after the glass sheet G is divided, but even immediately before the glass sheet G is divided, the gas circulation space 3 is formed in the peripheral region including the divided base line GL. become.
[0034]
In the first embodiment, the box-like body 4 has an upper wall 41, a bottom wall 42, a front wall 43, a rear wall 44, a left side wall 45, and a right side wall 46 because the plate glass G is held in a horizontal posture. The right side wall 46 is formed with an inlet 5 through which air as gas flows from the external space into the gas flow space 3, and the left side wall 45 draws the air in the gas flow space 3 to the outside. A suction port 6 is formed. The suction port 6 is connected to the distal end portion of the suction hose 7 from the external space side, and a suction source (not shown) such as a suction pump or a suction blower is connected to the proximal end portion of the suction hose 7. Has been. Further, the inflow port 5 is configured to guide clean air that has passed through a filter (not shown). Therefore, in the first embodiment, the air flow generation means 8 for generating a clean air flow in the gas circulation space 3 is constituted by the suction source, the suction hose 7, the suction port 6, and the inflow port 5. In this case, the suction port 6 is set so that an air flow having a flow rate of 5 to 20 m / s is generated.
[0035]
More specifically, the box-shaped body 4 includes an upper box portion 40x formed by fixing and integrating an upper wall 41, a rear wall 44, a front wall upper portion 43a, and left and right side wall upper portions 45a and 46a, a bottom wall 42, and a front wall. The lower box part 40y is formed by fixing and integrating the lower part 43b and the left and right side wall lower parts 45b and 46b. Then, an opening / closing drive mechanism (not shown) moves the upper box part 40x up and down with respect to the lower box part 40y fixedly installed on the floor or the base, and the both box parts 40x and 40y are brought into phase approach and phase separation. (See FIG. 2 (b)). In this case, an elastic body 43w made of rubber or sponge is fixed to the lower end portion of the front wall upper portion 43a of the upper box portion 40x, and the bottom wall 42 is inclined downward toward the rear.
[0036]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing apparatus 1 is a conveyor belt made of a pair of urethane rubbers that conveys a horizontally oriented glass sheet G in the right direction indicated by an arrow a (a direction parallel to the dividing base line GL of the glass sheet G). 9 (the other conveyor belt is not shown), and the lower surface of the upper traveling portion 9a of one conveyor belt 9 is in contact with or substantially in contact with the upper end surface of the front wall lower portion 43b of the box-like body 4. Yes. And between the upper surface (upper end part of the front wall lower part 43b of the box-shaped body 4) of this upper traveling part 9a and the lower end part (elastic body 43w) of the front wall upper part 43a existing just above it is the plate glass G. It is a plate glass insertion portion 10 through which the divided base line GL and the unnecessary portion Gb are inserted so as to protrude rearward from the gap between them. In addition, the area | region which exists ahead rather than the said clearance gap (sheet glass insertion part 10) of the plate glass G is made into the product part Ga.
[0037]
Further, a splitting cylinder 11 is attached to the upper wall 41 of the box-like body 4 so that the unnecessary portion Gb of the plate glass G is hit from above to split the plate glass G by splitting along the split base line GL. The dividing cylinder 11 includes a cylinder tube 11 a fixed to the upper wall 41 of the box-like body 4, and a retracting rod 11 b which is held by the cylinder tube 11 a so as to be freely retractable downward and enters the gas circulation space 3. The hitting body 12 is fixed to the lower end of the retracting rod 11b.
[0038]
Next, the operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.
[0039]
A glass plate G (about 1000 × 1200 mm size) for a glass panel of a liquid crystal display formed by a float method, a down draw method, or the like, has a streak between a product portion Ga and an unnecessary portion Gb on the surface prior to division. A dividing base line GL made of a straight line-shaped groove is engraved, and thereafter conveyed by the conveyor belt 9 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. When the plate glass G is conveyed, the upper box portion 40x of the box-like body 4 is raised to the upper moving end and is separated from the lower box portion 40y (see FIG. 2 (b)). Therefore, the plate glass G is set in a state where the split base line GL and the unnecessary portion Gb protrude rearward from the upper surface of the conveyor belt 9 and the unnecessary portion Gb is located directly below the hitting body 12 of the split cylinder 11 in the plate glass insertion portion 10. Is done.
[0040]
From such a state, first, the upper box part 40x descends to the lower moving end, whereby the elastic body 43w of the front wall upper part 43a in the box-like body 4 contacts or substantially contacts the surface of the sheet glass G, and the sheet glass insertion part 10 At the same time, the rear wall 44, the bottom wall 42, and the left and right side walls 45, 46 are closed. Thereby, a substantially closed gas circulation space 3 is formed inside the box-shaped body 4. At the same time as or immediately after such an operation, a suction force is generated in the suction port 6 by the operation of the suction source, and air flows into the gas circulation space 3 from the inlet 5 by this suction force. As a result, an air flow from the inflow port 5 toward the suction port 6 is generated.
[0041]
Thus, at the same time as the air flow is generated in the gas circulation space 3, or just before or immediately after that, the retracting rod 11b of the dividing cylinder 11 moves downward, so that the tapping body 12 at the lower end thereof becomes the glass sheet G. The unnecessary portion Gb is hit, and as shown in FIG. 2A, the plate glass G is broken and divided at the dividing base line GL. At the time of the division, glass chipping P is generated at the division portion of the glass sheet G (in the vicinity of the division base line GL). The glass chipping P is sucked from the suction port 6 along the air flow in the gas circulation space 3. It is drawn into the hose 7 and collected at a predetermined accommodation location. Then, the glass chipping P is drawn into the suction hose 7 together with the air until the glass chipping P does not remain in the gas circulation space 3 at all.
[0042]
On the other hand, along with the division of the plate glass G, the unnecessary portion Gb falls to the bottom of the box-shaped body 4, and this unnecessary portion Gb is the box-shaped body when all of the glass chipping P is collected. When the upper box portion 40x of 4 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 2 (b), it falls by its own weight along the inclined bottom wall 42 of the box-like body 4, and enters a place where a predetermined unnecessary portion Gb is accommodated. Be contained. At this time, the operation for generating the suction force at the suction port 6 is released. However, if necessary, the operation for generating the suction force may be continuously performed.
[0043]
Thereafter, the product portion Ga of the plate glass G is removed from the conveyor belt 9 and stored in a predetermined location, and the subsequent plate glass G is conveyed by the conveyor belt 9 to be received by the plate glass insertion portion 10 of the box-shaped body 4. The operation is stopped and the same operation as described above (the operation shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) is performed again. By performing the operation as described above, the problem that the glass chipping P generated when the glass sheet G is divided adheres to the product part Ga is avoided, and when the product part Ga is stored and handled in the laminated state. Scratches are less likely to occur, and problems such as a decrease in commercial value due to residual adhesion of the glass chipping P are less likely to occur.
[0044]
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a plate glass manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a transverse plan view showing the operation of the manufacturing apparatus.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturing apparatus 1 ′ according to the second embodiment has suspension support means (not shown) for supporting the sheet glass G ′ by suspending and conveying it in a vertical posture. In the recovery device 2 ′, a plate glass insertion portion 10 ′ for sandwiching a rear end portion (an end portion on the unnecessary portion Gb ′ side) of the plate glass G ′ conveyed by the suspension support conveying means is formed between them. The pair of plate-like base materials 20 fixed to the rear surfaces of the pair of base materials 20 so as to protrude rearward, and the leading edges 21a (rear edges) are formed on the front and back surfaces of the sheet glass G ′. A pair of thin plate-like lip sheets 21 in contact with each other.
[0046]
Both the lip sheets 21 have an elongated rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction, and are formed of a flexible material such as resin or rubber, and have a lower rigidity than the base material 20. And the base end part (front end part) of the both lip sheets 21 is fixed to the base material 20 at a position away from both the front and back surfaces of the sheet glass G ′, and the direction in which both approach each other at the center part in the width direction. It is curved so as to be recessed.
[0047]
Therefore, in the second embodiment, the space surrounded by the base material 20 and the pair of lip sheets 21 is the gas circulation space 3 ′, and the region in the gas circulation space 3 ′, that is, the base In the region between the material 20 and the leading edge 21a of the lip sheet 21, there is a split base line GL ′ of the plate glass G ′. Also, one end (lower end) in the vertical direction of both lip sheets 21 serves as a suction port 6 ′, and a suction hose 7 ′ led from a suction source is connected to the suction port 6 ′ and the other end (upper end) ) Is the inlet 5 ′, and the air that has passed through the filter is guided to the inlet 5 ′. In this case, the base material 20 may be a pair in which both of them move to approach and separate from each other, or one base material 20 is in a fixed state and the other base material 20 is in one base. The material 20 may approach and separate from the material 20, or both the base materials 20 may be in a fixed state. An elastic body 20w made of rubber or sponge is fixed to the opposite end portion of one base material 20. Also in the second embodiment, air flow generating means for generating a clean air flow in the gas circulation space 3 ′ by the above-described suction source, suction hose 7 ′, suction port 6 ′, and inflow port 5 ′. 8 'is configured. Also in this case, the suction port 6 'is set so that an air flow having a flow rate of 5 to 20 m / s is generated.
[0048]
Further, the recovery device 2 ′ absorbs and holds the exposed portion of the unnecessary portion Gb ′ exposed rearward from the front edge 21a of the lip sheet 21 in the plate glass G ′ by negative pressure, thereby dividing the plate glass G ′ into the divided base line GL. A split discharge mechanism 22 is provided that performs splitting by 'and splits the unnecessary portion Gb after splitting. The split discharge mechanism 22 includes a robot arm 23 and a vacuum cup 24 attached to the tip of the robot arm 23.
[0049]
Next, the operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.
[0050]
Also in the second embodiment, the plate glass G ′ similar to the case of the first embodiment described above, that is, after the plate glass G ′ in which the dividing base line GL ′ composed of the straight linear grooves is engraved prior to the division. The end part is made to enter the gas circulation space 3 ′ through the gap between the pair of base materials 20, and the front edges 21a of the pair of lip sheets 21 are pushed open to be exposed to the external space. Then, the opposite ends of the pair of base materials 20 are brought into contact with or substantially in contact with the front and back surfaces of the plate glass G ′, and the exposed portion to the outside from the leading edge 21a of the lip sheet 21 in the unnecessary portion Gb ′ of the plate glass G ′, The vacuum cup 24 of the split discharge mechanism 22 is adsorbed.
[0051]
At the same time as or immediately after such an operation, the suction source 6 generates a suction force at the suction port 6 ′, and the suction force causes air to flow into the gas circulation space 3 ′. By doing so, an air flow from the inlet 5 ′ toward the suction port 6 ′ is generated. Then, simultaneously with the generation of this air flow, or immediately before or after that, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the robot arm 23 moves the vacuum cup 24 toward the back side of the glass sheet G ′. Thus, the glass sheet G ′ is broken and divided at the dividing base line GL ′. The glass chipping P ′ generated at the time of the division is drawn into the suction hose 7 ′ from the suction port 6 ′ along the air flow in the gas circulation space 3 ′, and collected in a predetermined accommodation location. Then, the glass chipping P ′ together with the air is drawn into the suction hose 7 ′ until no glass chipping P ′ remains in the gas circulation space 3 ′.
[0052]
At the same time as or immediately after such operation, the robot arm 23 moves the vacuum cup 24 rearward as shown in FIG. When the Gb ′ is pulled out from the gas circulation space 3 ′ and separated from the lip sheet 21 and the unnecessary portion Gb ′ is moved to a predetermined position, the suction by the vacuum cup 24 is released and dropped, thereby removing the unnecessary portion Gb. 'Recovery is performed. After this, the product portion Ga ′ of the plate glass G ′ is removed from between the pair of base materials 20 by the suspension conveyance means and stored in a predetermined place, and the subsequent plate glass G ′ is removed by the suspension conveyance means. It is conveyed and stops between the pair of base materials 20 and between the pair of lip sheets 21 and performs the same operation (the operation shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b)) again. It is.
[0053]
When the glass sheet G ′ is formed by the float method, the downdraw method, or the like, the forming process is completed while maintaining the vertical posture, so that the glass sheet G ′ is vertically aligned as in the second embodiment. According to the method of conveying and dividing in a posture, there is no need to change the posture after forming the glass sheet G ′, and there is an advantage that a troublesome and complicated posture changing operation is not required. Moreover, in view of the current situation where the plate glass G ′ is being increased in size, when the plate glass G ′ is supported in a horizontal posture, bending due to its own weight is likely to occur, but as in the second embodiment. If the glass sheet G ′ is supported in a vertical posture, the problem of bending due to its own weight can be effectively avoided. In addition, if the glass sheet G ′ is supported in a vertical position, it is not necessary to secure a large work space in the process flow direction when performing a flow work, compared to the case where the glass sheet G ′ is supported in a horizontal position. The advantage that the work equipment can be made compact is obtained.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As mentioned above, according to the manufacturing method of the plate glass which concerns on this invention, by producing a gas flow in the gas distribution space formed by covering the division | segmentation base line of plate glass with a covering member over the full length, Since the glass chipping generated during the division of the plate glass is collected, the glass chipping is not attached to the product portion of the plate glass after the division, and after being distributed in the gas circulation space, for example, discharged to the outside and collected. Is done. Thus, glass chipping can be reliably recovered by generating a gas flow in the gas circulation space for a short time without performing complicated and complicated operations and controls. In addition, by blocking or substantially blocking the gas circulation space from the external space, the inside of the gas circulation space can be appropriately airtight, and a force necessary for generating a sufficient gas flow in the gas circulation space (for example, (Suction force) can be reduced.
[0055]
In this case, if the gas is configured to flow through the gas flow space from the inlet existing on one end side of the divided base line of the plate glass toward the suction port existing on the other end side, the flow direction of the gas is glass along the divided base line. Since it coincides with the longitudinal direction of the chipping occurrence region, there is an advantage that the gas can be transported and recovered without waste and reliably.
[0056]
Moreover, according to the manufacturing apparatus of the plate glass which concerns on this invention, the covering member which forms gas distribution space by covering the division | segmentation base line of plate glass over the full length, and the gas flow for collect | recovering glass chipping are gas distribution. Air flow generating means for generating in the space, the glass chipping can be reliably recovered without performing complicated and complicated operation and control in the same manner as described above, and sufficient gas in the gas circulation space. The force (for example, suction force) necessary for generating the flow of the flow can be reduced.
[0057]
In this case, the covering member is composed of a box-like body that covers the front side and the back side of the plate glass, and the box-like body sucks the gas in the gas circulation space toward the outside, and the suction If the structure is provided with an inflow port for allowing gas to flow into the gas circulation space from the outside by the suction force generated at the mouth, clean gas will flow into the gas circulation space from the inlet by the suction force generated at the suction port. As a result, glass chipping can be collected more reliably and efficiently.
[0058]
And if the suction port and the inflow port are respectively formed on one end side and the other end side of the split base line of the plate glass, the gas flow direction along the split base line of the plate glass and the length of the generation region of the glass chipping along the split base line The direction is the same, and the same advantages as those already described in connection with this can be obtained.
[0059]
In addition, the box-shaped body has two box portions separated so as to be capable of phase approach and phase separation, and when the two box portions approach each other, a plate glass insertion portion of the box-shaped body and If the plate glass insertion part and the bottom part are open when the bottom part is in a closed state and are separated from each other, the plate glass insertion part and the bottom part of the box-shaped body are in the closed state. The unnecessary part of the glass sheet is stored at the bottom of the box-like body at the same time as the division of the glass and the chipping recovery, and when the plate glass insertion part and the bottom of the box-like body are in the open state, the unnecessary part of the plate glass is removed. At the same time as discharging from the bottom to the outside, the succeeding plate glass can be smoothly set in the plate glass insertion portion, and automation of each operation is effectively achieved.
[0060]
Moreover, instead of providing the box-shaped body described above, as a component of the covering member, A pair of base materials arranged on both sides of the front and back to sandwich the plate glass; Each front edge abuts the front and back surfaces of the glass sheet And each base end is attached to the pair of base materials. And a pair of flexible lip sheets When If the suction port is formed on one end side in the direction along the leading edge of these lip sheets and the inflow port is formed on the other end side, the gas circulation space which is a substantially closed space can be simplified. Since the sheet glass can be divided by making effective use of the portion exposed to the outside from the front edge of the lip sheet of the sheet glass, the component of the dividing means for performing the folding and the like Can all be arranged in the external space. In addition, since the portion exposed to the outside from the front edge of the lip sheet of the plate glass can be effectively used, an unnecessary portion of the plate glass can be extracted or discharged after the division, thereby facilitating and speeding up these operations. Can be achieved. Furthermore, since each lip sheet has flexibility, the gas circulation space can be substantially closed even after an unnecessary portion of the plate glass is extracted outside after division, so that the gas circulation space is always cleaned. It is possible to maintain a stable state.
[0061]
In this case, if the front edge of each lip sheet is arranged so as to extend in a direction parallel to the dividing base line of the plate glass, a suction port is provided on one end side of the plate glass dividing base line, and an inlet port is provided on the other end side. Therefore, the gas flow direction along the dividing base line of the glass sheet and the longitudinal direction of the glass chipping generation region along the dividing base line (dividing part) coincide with each other. Thus, the same effects as those already described can be enjoyed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part of a sheet glass manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 (a) is a longitudinal side view showing an operation related to the main part of the plate glass manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is the main part of the plate glass manufacturing apparatus. It is a vertical side view which shows the effect | action regarding.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part of a sheet glass manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 (a) is a cross-sectional plan view showing the operation related to the main part of the sheet glass manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 (b) is the same main part of the sheet glass manufacturing apparatus. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the effect | action regarding.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Sheet glass manufacturing equipment
1 'Sheet glass manufacturing equipment
2 Collection device
2 'Recovery device
3 Gas circulation space
3 'Gas circulation space
4 Box-shaped body
5 Inlet
5 'Inlet
6 Suction port
6 'suction port
8 Airflow generation means
8 'Airflow generation means
10 Flat glass insertion part
10 'Flat glass insertion part
21 Lip sheet
21a Tip edge of lip sheet
G sheet glass
G 'flat glass
Ga product parts
Ga 'product part
Gb unnecessary part
Gb 'Unnecessary part
P Glass chipping
P 'Glass chipping

Claims (8)

Immediately after dividing the plate glass along the dividing base line, a method for producing the plate glass including a step of collecting glass chipping generated in the divided portion,
By covering the divided base line of the plate glass with a covering member over the entire length, after forming a gas flow space in the peripheral region of the divided base line, the plate glass is divided along the divided base line, and the gas flow space is A method for producing a glass sheet, wherein the glass chipping is recovered by a flowing gas. The said glass flows the gas distribution space toward the suction port which exists in the other end side from the inflow port which exists in the one end side of the division | segmentation base line of the said plate glass, The manufacturing method of the plate glass of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Immediately after dividing the plate glass along the dividing base line, a plate glass manufacturing apparatus provided with a collecting device for collecting glass chipping generated in the divided portion,
The recovery device includes a covering member that forms a gas flow space in a peripheral region of the split base line by covering the split base line of the plate glass over the entire length, and a gas flow for recovering the glass chipping. An apparatus for producing plate glass, comprising: an airflow generating means for generating in a circulation space. The covering member is configured by a box-shaped body that covers the front side and the back side of the plate glass, and the suction port that sucks the gas in the gas circulation space to the outside, and the suction port The apparatus for producing plate glass according to claim 3, further comprising an inflow port through which a gas flows into the gas circulation space from the outside by a suction force generated by the gas. The said suction port and inflow port are each formed in the one end side and other end side of the division | segmentation base line of the said plate glass, The manufacturing apparatus of the plate glass of Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The box-shaped body has two box portions separated so as to be able to approach and separate from each other, and when the two box portions approach each other, the plate glass insertion portion and the bottom portion of the box-shaped body are separated from each other. The plate glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the plate glass insertion portion and the bottom portion are opened when the plate glass is closed and separated from each other. The covering portion material is separated from the front and back surfaces of the plate glass with a pair of substrates which are respectively disposed on the front and back both sides so as to sandwich the plate glass, each of the leading edge surface and the rear surface of the plate glass contact positions by a pair of lips sheets, each having a base end portion and flexible attached to said pair of substrates, the gas flows through the enclosed space by the pair of substrates and a pair of lips sheet with the space, on one end side in the direction along the leading edge of the lip seat, the gas in the gas flowing space forming a suction port for sucking toward the outside, on the other end, the suction force generated at the suction port The plate glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an inflow port through which gas flows into the gas circulation space from outside is formed. The plate glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a tip edge of each lip sheet is arranged so as to extend in a direction parallel to a divided base line of the plate glass.

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