JP6424674B2 - Cutting method of glass film - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention comprises the steps of separating the effective portion and the non-effective portion of the ribbon-shaped glass film being transported by cutting using a laser cutting method, and separating the effective portion and the non-effective portion after separation in the thickness direction. It relates to a cutting method of a glass film containing

  As well known, flat glass used for flat panel displays (FPDs) such as liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, and organic EL displays is being promoted to be thinner along with the increasing demand for weight reduction, and the thickness thereof is A glass film thinned to 300 μm or less or 200 μm or less has been developed and manufactured.

  As a manufacturing process of this glass film, while conveying the ribbon-shaped glass film which becomes the origin of a glass film in a flat posture, the non-effective part which exists respectively in the width direction both ends, and the effective part which exists between both non-active parts There is a step of separation by cutting using a laser cutting method (hereinafter referred to as a cutting separation step). For both the effective part and the non-effective part after separation, for example, the non-effective part is separated from the transport path of the effective part so that only the effective part is rolled up to form a glass roll. A step of separating in the thickness direction (hereinafter referred to as separating step) is performed.

  By the way, since only a very narrow gap exists between the effective part and the ineffective part after the cutting and separation step is performed, the unavoidable part between the effective part and the ineffective part is performed during the separation step. Contact may cause a failure such as breakage of the effective part. More specifically, due to an impact generated by the contact with the ineffective portion, the microcracks included in the widthwise end of the effective portion develop and the effective portion breaks. Then, the method for eliminating such a malfunction is disclosed by patent document 1. FIG.

  In the method disclosed in the same document, for each of the effective part and the non-effective part after separation, both end parts in the width direction are supported by rollers from the lower surface side, and the effective part and the non-effective part are in the width direction It is curved and deformed along. Thereby, the width of the gap formed between the effective part and the non-effective part is expanded along with the bending deformation of the effective part and the non-effective part, and the contact between the effective part and the non-effective part is avoided during the separation process. .

JP, 2012-31031, A

  However, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 still has the following problems to be solved. That is, when the thickness of the effective portion and the non-effective portion is relatively large (for example, the thickness is 200 μm or more), or when the width dimension thereof is small, the bending rigidity of the effective portion and the non-effective portion increases. It becomes difficult to bend and deform by its own weight. Therefore, it has been difficult to expand the width of the gap formed between the two to a width sufficient to avoid contact between the two during the separation process.

  The present invention made in view of the above circumstances separates the effective portion and the non-effective portion in the thickness direction after separating the effective portion and the non-effective portion of the glass ribbon film being transported by cutting using a laser cutting method. It is a technical task to avoid contact between the two.

  The present invention invented to solve the above-mentioned problems continuously cuts the glass ribbon film being conveyed in the flat posture along the longitudinal direction by the laser cutting method, so that both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon film are cut. In the ineffective section by separating the ineffective section present in each and the effective section existing between both ineffective sections, and inactivating the ineffective section after separation from the transport path of the effective section after separation, ineffective section In a method of cutting a glass film including a separation step of separating a portion and an effective portion in a thickness direction, thickness directions are respectively generated at two places mutually separated along the width direction in the effective portion during the separation step. By applying a first external force having a component and applying a second external force having a thickness direction component opposite to the first external force to a location located between the two points, an effective portion is obtained. Width Characterized by performing the deformation imparting step of curving deformation along. Here, "conveying in a flat orientation" means that the ribbon-shaped glass film is transported in a posture parallel to a horizontal surface, or the ribbon-shaped glass film is inclined within a range of 45 ° or less with respect to the horizontal surface It means the case of being transported in the same posture. Also, "external force" does not include gravity.

  According to such a method, the effective part during execution of the separation step has a width by the first external force and the second external force having mutually opposite thickness direction components along with the execution of the deformation applying step. It is forcibly bent and deformed along the direction. Thus, the width of the gap formed between the effective portion and the non-effective portion can be expanded by the amount of curvature deformation of the effective portion along the width direction. As a result, it is possible to avoid contact between the active part and the non-active part during execution of the separation step.

  In the above method, the first external force is applied by each of the two support rollers supporting the lower surface of the effective portion, and the second external force is applied by the fluid jetted toward the upper surface of the effective portion. Good.

  In this case, the lower surface of the effective portion is convex along the width direction by the force applied to the effective portion from each of the two support rollers and the force applied to the effective portion by the jetted fluid. In addition, the effective portion can be bent and deformed.

  In the above method, an intermediate roller supporting the lower surface of the effective part where the fluid is jetted and supporting the effective part below the two support rollers is located between the two support rollers. It is preferable to arrange in.

  If the pressure of the fluid jetted toward the upper surface of the effective portion is excessive, the lower surface of the effective portion may be excessively protruded and the effective portion may be dropped from the two support rollers. However, if an intermediate roller is disposed between the two support rollers, the protrusion of the lower surface of the effective portion is limited by the intermediate roller, regardless of how much force is applied to the effective portion by the fluid. Is possible. As a result, when bending and deforming the effective portion, it is not necessary to precisely adjust the pressure of the injected fluid in order to prevent the effective portion from falling off.

  In the above method, the intermediate roller may be a roller having a rotation axis common to the two support rollers and smaller in diameter than the two support rollers.

  In this way, since the intermediate roller and the two support rollers have a common rotational axis, it is not necessary to separately provide the rotational axis of the intermediate roller and the rotational axes of the two support rollers, and the number of rotational axes can be reduced. It is possible to avoid an increase in Therefore, the equipment cost can be suppressed.

  In the above method, the two support rollers and the intermediate roller are preferably free rollers.

  If there is a difference in peripheral speed between the two supporting rollers and the intermediate roller, the effective part may slide on the supporting roller or on the intermediate roller, and the effective part may be scratched. However, if the two support rollers and the intermediate roller are free rollers, the two support rollers and the intermediate roller both rotate at a peripheral speed equal to the moving speed of the effective part due to the friction with the effective part. Become. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of abrasion at the effective part.

  In the above method, it is preferable to arrange the two support rollers symmetrically with reference to the widthwise center of the effective portion, and to jet the fluid toward the widthwise center of the effective portion.

  In this way, the effective portion is curved and deformed symmetrically with respect to the center in the width direction. Thereby, the width of the gap formed between the effective portion and one non-effective portion and the width of the gap formed between the effective portion and the other non-effective portion can be equally expanded. . In addition, since the fluid is jetted toward the center in the width direction away from both widthwise end portions of the effective portion, occurrence of a situation where both widthwise end portions swing along with the ejection of fluid is prevented as much as possible. Be done. As a result, it is possible to more stably avoid contact between the effective part and the non-effective part during execution of the separation step.

  In the above method, it is preferable that the two supporting rollers support the widthwise both ends of the effective portion.

  In this way, the distance between the two places to which the first external force is loaded can be made as long as possible. Therefore, it becomes easy to curve and deform the effective part.

  In the above method, the first external force may be applied by the fluid respectively injected to two places on the upper surface of the effective portion, and the second external force may be applied by the support roller supporting the lower surface of the effective portion. .

  In this case, the upper surface of the effective portion is convex along the width direction by the force applied to the effective portion by the fluid injected to each of the two places and the force applied to the effective portion from the support roller As a result, the effective part can be bent and deformed.

  In the above method, the edge roller supporting the widthwise both end portions of the effective portion from the lower surface side and supporting the effective portion below the support roller is one side of the support roller in the width direction. It is preferable to arrange each on the side and the other side.

  When the pressure of the fluid injected to each of two places on the upper surface of the effective part becomes excessive, the effective part is bent excessively (the curvature becomes excessively large), which occurs along with this bending deformation. There is a possibility that the effective part may be broken by the stress. However, if the edge rollers are disposed on one side and the other side of the support roller in the width direction, the excess of the effective portion is generated even if the force applied to the effective portion by the fluid increases. It is possible to limit bending deformation. This eliminates the need to precisely adjust the pressure of the injected fluid in order to prevent breakage of the effective part in bending and deforming the effective part.

  In the above method, the support roller and the edge roller are preferably free rollers.

  If there is a difference in peripheral velocity between the support roller and the edge roller, the effective part may slide on the support roller or on the edge roller, and the effective part may be scratched. However, when the support roller and the edge roller are free rollers, the support roller and the edge roller both rotate at a circumferential velocity equal to the moving speed of the effective portion due to the friction with the effective portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of abrasion at the effective part.

  In the above method, it is preferable that the two positions where the fluid is ejected with respect to the center in the width direction of the effective portion be symmetrical positions, and the center in the width direction of the effective portion be supported by the support roller.

  In this way, the effective portion is curved and deformed symmetrically with respect to the center in the width direction. Thereby, the width of the gap formed between the effective portion and one non-effective portion and the width of the gap formed between the effective portion and the other non-effective portion can be equally expanded. . As a result, it is possible to more stably avoid contact between the effective part and the non-effective part during execution of the separation step.

  In the above method, the support roller is preferably a roller having a symmetrical shape with respect to the center in the width direction of the effective portion and having a diameter that gradually decreases as it moves outward in the width direction.

  In this way, since the diameter of the support roller gradually shrinks as it moves outward in the width direction, the effective portions that are curved and deformed symmetrically with respect to the center in the width direction are matched to the curvature It can be supported. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the swing of the effective portion accompanying the ejection of the fluid, and it is possible to more stably avoid the contact between the effective portion and the ineffective portion during the execution of the separation process.

  In the above method, the first external force may be applied by each of the two support rollers supporting the lower surface of the effective portion, and the second external force may be applied by sucking the lower surface of the effective portion.

  In this case, the lower surface of the effective portion is convex along the width direction by the force applied to the effective portion from each of the two support rollers and the force applied to the effective portion by suction. It becomes possible to bend and deform the effective part.

  In the above method, two supporting rollers are provided with an intermediate roller having a suction hole for sucking the lower surface of the effective portion on the outer peripheral portion and having a lower height position supporting the effective portion than the two supporting rollers. It is preferable to arrange between them.

  If the suction force for sucking the lower surface of the effective portion is excessive, the lower surface of the effective portion may be excessively protruded and the effective portion may be dropped from the two support rollers. However, if an intermediate roller having a suction hole on the outer peripheral portion between the two support rollers is disposed, the protrusion of the lower surface of the effective portion is generated even if the force applied to the effective portion by suction becomes large. May be limited by the intermediate roller itself which sucks the active part. As a result, when bending and deforming the effective portion, it is not necessary to precisely adjust the pressure of the injected fluid in order to prevent the effective portion from falling off.

  In the above method, the intermediate roller may be a roller having a rotation axis common to the two support rollers and smaller in diameter than the two support rollers.

  In this way, since the intermediate roller and the two support rollers have a common rotational axis, it is not necessary to separately provide the rotational axis of the intermediate roller and the rotational axes of the two support rollers, and the number of rotational axes can be reduced. Can be avoided. Therefore, the equipment cost can be suppressed.

  In the above method, the two support rollers and the intermediate roller are preferably free rollers.

  If there is a difference in peripheral speed between the two supporting rollers and the intermediate roller, the effective part may slide on the supporting roller or on the intermediate roller, and the effective part may be scratched. However, if the two support rollers and the intermediate roller are free rollers, the two support rollers and the intermediate roller both rotate at a peripheral speed equal to the moving speed of the effective part due to the friction with the effective part. Become. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of abrasion at the effective part.

  In the above method, it is preferable to arrange the two support rollers symmetrically with reference to the widthwise center of the effective portion and to suck the widthwise center of the effective portion.

  In this way, the effective portion is curved and deformed symmetrically with respect to the center in the width direction. Thereby, it is possible to uniformly expand the width of the gap formed between the effective portion and one non-effective portion and the width of the gap formed between the effective portion and the other non-effective portion It is. As a result, it is possible to more stably avoid contact between the effective part and the non-effective part during execution of the separation step.

  In the above method, it is preferable that the two supporting rollers support the widthwise both ends of the effective portion.

  In this way, the distance between the two places to which the first external force is loaded can be made as long as possible. Therefore, it becomes easy to curve and deform the effective part.

  In the above method, the first external force may be applied by suctioning two points on the lower surface of the effective part, and the second external force may be applied by the support roller supporting the lower surface of the effective part. .

  In this case, the upper surface of the effective portion is convex along the width direction by the force applied to the effective portion by suctioning the two points and the force applied to the effective portion from the support roller. It is possible to bend and deform the effective part.

  In the above method, the thickness of the glass ribbon may be in the range of 200 μm to 300 μm.

  When the thickness of the ribbon-shaped glass film is 200 μm or more, the bending rigidity along the width direction of the effective part subjected to the cleaving and separation step is increased, and the effective part is hardly bent and deformed by its own weight. However, according to the present invention, even when the thickness of the ribbon-shaped glass film is 200 μm or more, the first external force and the second external force forcibly curve the effective portion that has undergone the cutting and separation process along the width direction. It can be deformed. Therefore, it is preferable to apply this invention, when a strip | belt-shaped glass film has said thickness.

  As described above, according to the present invention, after the effective portion and the non-effective portion of the strip-like glass film being transported are separated by cutting using the laser cutting method, the effective portion and the non-effective portion are separated in the thickness direction. It is possible to avoid contact between the two when making it happen.

It is a top view which shows the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal front view which shows the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal front view which shows the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal front view which shows the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal front view which shows the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 4th embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated with reference to an attached drawing. In each of the embodiments described below, a band-shaped glass film having a thickness of 200 μm to 300 μm is targeted for cutting. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A band-shaped glass film having a thickness of less than 200 μm may be targeted for cutting.

First Embodiment
First, the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the method for cutting a glass film according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a ribbon glass film G being conveyed in a flat posture is continuously cut along the longitudinal direction by a laser cutting method. And a breaking separation step of separating the non-effective portions Ga respectively existing at both ends in the width direction of the strip-shaped glass film G and the effective portions Gb existing between both non-effective portions Ga, and the separated non-effective portions Ga after separation And a separation step of separating the non-effective part Ga and the effective part Gb in the thickness direction (up and down) by separating from the transport path of the effective part Gb.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in this glass film cutting method, during execution of the separation step, the first portion having a thickness direction component at two locations mutually separated along the width direction in the effective portion Gb By applying a second external force F2 having a thickness direction component opposite to the first external force F1 to the width of the effective portion Gb. A deformation applying process is performed to cause bending deformation along the direction. By executing the deformation applying step, the width of the gap formed between the effective portion Gb and the ineffective portion Ga is expanded to avoid contact between the effective portion Gb and the ineffective portion Ga during the separation step. Do. The effective portion Gb after the deformation applying step (disengaging step) is wound into a roll to form a glass roll.

  The strip-shaped glass film G which becomes the object of cutting in a cutting isolation | separation process is unrolled continuously from the glass roll which wound up the said strip-shaped glass film G in roll shape. Then, the unrolled band-like glass film G is horizontally conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow T in FIG. 1 using a conveying means (for example, a belt conveyor or the like). In addition, the thickness of the strip | belt-shaped glass film G has become in the range of 200 micrometers-300 micrometers.

  In the cutting and separating step, a heating region H locally heated by laser irradiation and a refrigerant (for example, a heating element) along a planned cutting line X which is a boundary between the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga of the strip glass film G A cooling region C which is locally cooled by the injection of misty water etc. is continuously formed. Thereby, the strip-shaped glass film G is continuously cut using the thermal stress generated by the temperature difference between both regions, and the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga of the strip-shaped glass film G are separated. Note that both the effective part Gb and the non-effective part Ga after separation are horizontally transported in parallel.

  Here, in this embodiment, although the strip | belt-shaped glass film G rolled off continuously from the glass roll is made into the object of a cutting, it is not this limitation. For example, as a modification, a strip glass film G continuously formed by the down draw method may be a target of cutting. Further, in the present embodiment, the belt-like glass film G conveyed horizontally is cut, but as a modification, the belt-like film conveyed in the inclined direction inclined within the range of 45 ° or less with respect to the horizontal plane The glass film G may be cut. However, the smaller the inclination with respect to the horizontal surface, the better. The inclination with respect to the horizontal surface is preferably 20 ° or less, more preferably 10 ° or less, and even more preferably 5 ° or less.

  In the separation step, of the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga conveyed horizontally in parallel after separation, the effective portion Gb is continuously conveyed horizontally, and the non-effective portion Ga is conveyed in the effective portion Gb Pull it down from the path and let go. Thereby, the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga are separated in the thickness direction.

  Here, the mode in which the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga after separation are separated in the thickness direction is not limited to the mode as in the present embodiment. For example, as a modification, in the case where the strip glass film G is cut to separate the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga while conveying in the inclined direction inclined with respect to the horizontal plane as follows, Depending on the embodiment, the separation step may be performed. That is, the active portion Gb is continuously transported in the inclined direction, and the non-effective portion Ga is pulled out horizontally from the transport path of the effective portion Gb and separated to separate the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga in the thickness direction. May be

  The first external force F1 is applied to the effective portion Gb when performing the deformation applying process by each of the two support rollers 1 supporting the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb, and the upper surface Gba of the effective portion Gb. The second external force F2 is loaded by the air A as the fluid jetted toward the. As a result, in the vicinity of the two support rollers 1 on the transport path of the effective portion Gb, the effective portion Gb is forcibly bent and deformed along the width direction regardless of its own weight. Then, while the effective portion Gb is being curved and deformed, the non-effective portion Ga is separated from the transport path of the effective portion Gb in accordance with the execution of the separation step.

  Between the two support rollers 1, the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb where the air A is jetted is supported, and the height position supporting the effective portion Gb is lower than that of the two support rollers 1. The intermediate roller 2 is disposed. Moreover, when performing a deformation | transformation provision process, the non-effective part Ga before making it remove | deviate from the conveyance path of effective part Gb is supported by the roller 3. FIG.

  From the position where the laser cutting method is performed in the cutting and separating step (the position where the heating area H and the cooling area C are formed on the strip-shaped glass film G), the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 It is disposed at a position spaced downstream on the side. In addition, the stress which acts on the said effective part Gb with the curve deformation of the effective part Gb performs the laser cutting method the distance from the position which performs a laser cutting method to the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 It is preferable to set a distance that does not propagate to the position.

  The two support rollers 1 are disposed symmetrically with respect to the widthwise center Gbc of the effective portion Gb, and respectively support one end and the other end Gbd in the width direction of the effective portion Gb. Thereby, the first external force F1 (a force for supporting the effective portion Gb) is loaded from the two support rollers 1 to the effective portion Gb. The intermediate roller 2 is a long roller along the width direction of the effective portion Gb and is a roller smaller in diameter than the two support rollers 1. Both of the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 are both free rollers, and rotate by friction with the effective portion Gb. Furthermore, the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 have a common rotation axis 4.

  The air A is injected from the air injector 5 toward the width direction center Gbc of the effective portion Gb. Thereby, the second external force F2 (force to press the effective portion Gb downward) is applied to the effective portion Gb by the air A. Only one air injector 5 is disposed above the widthwise center Gbc of the effective portion Gb. In the present embodiment, the effective portion Gb is curved and deformed symmetrically on the basis of the width direction center Gbc by the second external force F2 and the first external force F1.

  The roller 3 is disposed outside in the width direction with respect to the support roller 1 and is a free roller that rotates around the rotation axis 6. The rotating shaft 6 is disposed at the same height position as the rotating shaft 4 of the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2. Further, the diameter of the roller 3 is smaller than the diameter of the support roller 1, and the same diameter as the diameter of the intermediate roller 2. Thereby, due to the difference in the size of the diameter between the rollers 1 and 3 between the effective portion Gb (end portion Gbd) supported by the support roller 1 and the non-effective portion Ga supported by the roller 3 As a result, a difference in height occurs, which makes it easier to avoid contact between the effective portion Gb (end portion Gbd) and the ineffective portion Ga.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, when the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 are viewed from the front, the middle point at the top of the intermediate roller 2 (the part contacting the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb) and the support roller 1 Preferably, the magnitude of the angle θ1 at which the straight line connecting the effective portion Gb and the contact point with the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb is inclined with respect to the horizontal line is in the following range. That is, when the angle θ1 is too small, the effective portion Gb may not be bent and deformed sufficiently along the width direction, and the width of the gap formed between the effective portion Gb and the ineffective portion Ga may not be sufficiently expanded. is there. On the other hand, if the angle θ1 is too large, the curvature of the effective portion Gb curved and deformed along the width direction becomes large, and the stress acting on the effective portion Gb with the bending deformation of the effective portion Gb executes the laser cutting method It is more likely to propagate to the Therefore, the angle θ1 is preferably 0.5 ° to 5 °, more preferably 0.7 ° to 3 °, and most preferably 1 ° to 2 °.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the second external force F2 is loaded on the effective portion Gb by injecting air A as a fluid toward the upper surface Gba of the effective portion Gb, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a modification, the second external force F2 may be applied to the effective portion Gb by injecting another gas or liquid. In addition, the location to which the air A is jetted does not necessarily have to be the center Gbc in the width direction of the effective portion Gb, and may be a location located between the two support rollers 1 in the effective portion Gb. Therefore, as a modification, the air A may be jetted toward a position shifted from the widthwise center Gbc of the effective portion Gb. Furthermore, as a modification, a plurality of air injectors 5 may be disposed, and the plurality of air injectors 5 direct air toward a plurality of locations of the effective portion Gb (a plurality of locations positioned between two support rollers 1) A may be injected. In this case, the plurality of second external forces F2 are loaded on the effective portion Gb.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the intermediate roller 2 is a long roller along the width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The intermediate roller 2 only needs to be able to support the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb where the air A is injected. Therefore, as a modification, the intermediate roller 2 may be a short roller along the width direction, and only the lower surface Gbb of the portion where the air A is jetted may be supported. Furthermore, the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 may not necessarily be free rollers, and alternatively, drive rollers may be used. In this case, in order to prevent the occurrence of scratches on the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb, it is preferable to set the circumferential velocity to be the same between the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2. In addition, the locations supported by each of the two support rollers 1 may not be the end Gbd on one side and the other side in the width direction of the effective portion Gb, and as a modification, the end Gbd extends inward in the width direction It may be a misplaced place.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in order to facilitate the contact between the effective portion Gb (end portion Gbd) and the ineffective portion Ga, a height difference between the effective portion Gb (end portion Gbd) and the ineffective portion Ga is obtained. It is caused. And for this purpose, after arranging the rotating shaft 4 of the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 and the rotating shaft 6 of the roller 3 at the same height position, the diameter of the roller 3 is the supporting roller 1 And the same size as the diameter of the intermediate roller 2. However, not limited to this, the height position at which the support roller 1 supports the effective portion Gb (end portion Gbd) when producing a height difference between the effective portion Gb (end portion Gbd) and the non-effective portion Ga However, the height position at which the roller 3 supports the non-effective portion Ga only needs to be lowered. Therefore, for example, unlike the present embodiment, the diameter of the roller 3 may be smaller than the diameter of the intermediate roller 2. Also, for example, with the diameter of the support roller 1 and the diameter of the roller 3 being the same size, the rotation shaft 6 of the roller 3 is positioned below the rotation shaft 4 of the two support rollers 1 and the intermediate roller 2 , Both rollers 1, 3 may be arranged.

  According to the cutting method of the glass film according to the first embodiment, the effective portion Gb during the execution of the separation step is the first external force having the mutually opposite thickness direction components as the deformation applying step is performed. It is forcibly bent and deformed along the width direction by F1 and the second external force F2. As a result, the width of the gap formed between the effective portion Gb and the non-effective portion Ga can be expanded by the amount of curvature deformation of the effective portion Gb along the width direction. As a result, it is possible to avoid contact between the effective portion Gb and the ineffective portion Ga during execution of the separation step.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. In the description of the second embodiment, the elements already described in the first embodiment above will be denoted by the same reference symbols in the drawings referred to in the description of the second embodiment, and redundant description will be omitted. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the glass film breaking method according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the glass film breaking method according to the first embodiment described above in the following three points: . (1) In the deformation applying step, the first external force F1 is loaded by injecting the air A at two points on the upper surface Gba of the effective portion Gb, and the support roller 1 supporting the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb By the second external force F2. (2) The shape and arrangement of the support roller 1 are different. (3) The edge roller 7 supporting the end Gbd on the one side and the other side in the width direction of the effective portion Gb from the lower surface Gbb side, one side and the other side sandwiching the support roller 1 in the width direction The point you are placing.

  The two locations where the air A is respectively injected are symmetrical with respect to the width direction center Gbc of the effective portion Gb. Then, the first external force F1 (force to press the effective portion Gb downward) is loaded to the effective portion Gb by each of the air A injected to the two places.

  The support roller 1 has a symmetrical shape with reference to the widthwise center Gbc of the effective portion Gb, and is a roller whose diameter gradually decreases as it moves outward in the width direction. The support roller 1 supports the center Gbc in the width direction of the effective portion Gb at one central portion where the diameter is maximized. As a result, the second external force F2 (a force for supporting the effective portion Gb) is loaded from the support roller 1 (the central portion of the support roller 1) to the effective portion Gb. The support roller 1 is a free roller, and rotates by friction with the effective portion Gb.

  The height position at which the edge roller 7 supports the effective portion Gb is lower than the support roller 1. Further, the diameter of the edge roller 7 is made smaller than the diameter of the central portion of the support roller 1 and is made the same size as the diameter of the roller 3. Furthermore, the edge roller 7 is a free roller as with the support roller 1 and rotates by friction with the effective portion Gb. The support roller 1 and the edge roller 7 have a common rotating shaft 8. The rotation shaft 8 is disposed at the same height position as the rotation shaft of the roller 3.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the support roller 1 and the two edge rollers 7 are viewed from the front, the contact point with the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb in the central portion of the support roller 1 and the effective portion of the edge roller 7 It is preferable that the size of the angle θ2 at which the straight line connecting the two points with the contact point with the lower surface Gbb of Gb is inclined with respect to the horizontal be within the following range. That is, for the same reason as the reason for showing the preferable size for the angle θ1 in the above description of the first embodiment, it is preferably 0.5 ° to 5 °, more preferably 0.7 ° to 3 °, Most preferably, it is 1 ° to 2 °.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the support roller 1 supports the center Gbc in the width direction of the effective portion Gb at the central portion thereof, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a modification, it is good also as a mode which provides a part which diameter becomes the maximum in a position which shifted from a central part in support roller 1, and supports a part which support roller 1 shifted from width direction center Gbc of effective part Gb. As a modification, the support roller 1 may support a plurality of locations where the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb is supported. In this case, the plurality of second external forces F2 are loaded on the effective portion Gb.

  Also by the method of cutting a glass film according to the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the method of cutting a glass film according to the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment
Hereinafter, the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. In the description of the third embodiment as well, the elements already described in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings referred to in the description of the third embodiment, and redundant description will be omitted. Only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the glass film breaking method according to the third embodiment of the present invention is different from the glass film breaking method according to the first embodiment described above in the following two points. . (1) In the deformation applying step, the second external force F2 is loaded by sucking the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb. (2) The intermediate roller 2 has a suction hole for suctioning the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb on the outer peripheral portion (the portion cross-hatched in FIG. 6).

  The intermediate roller 2 has a large number of suction holes formed on the outer periphery thereof, and each suction hole is connected to negative pressure generating means (for example, a vacuum pump or the like) for generating a negative pressure. Then, with the operation of the negative pressure generating means, a large number of suction holes suck the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb. A second external force F2 (a force for attracting the effective portion Gb downward) is applied to the effective portion Gb by the suction. In addition, many suction holes are arrange | positioned in center part one place of the intermediate | middle roller 2, and many suction holes suck | grip the width direction center Gbc of the effective part Gb.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a large number of suction holes formed on the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate roller 2 suction the center Gbc in the width direction of the effective portion Gb, but this is not a limitation. As a modification, a large number of suction holes may be arranged at a position deviated from the central portion of the intermediate roller 2, and a large number of suction holes may be suctioned at a position deviated from the width direction center Gbc of the effective portion Gb. As a modification, a plurality of suction holes may be disposed at a plurality of locations on the intermediate roller 2 along the width direction of the effective portion Gb, and a plurality of locations of the effective portion Gb may be attracted. In this case, the plurality of second external forces F2 are loaded on the effective portion Gb.

  Also by the method of cutting a glass film according to the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the method of cutting a glass film according to the above first embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment
Hereinafter, the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on 4th embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. Since the fourth embodiment is an aspect similar to the above second embodiment, in the description of the fourth embodiment, the elements already described in the above second embodiment are described in the description of the fourth embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the drawings to be referred to omit the overlapping description, and only differences from the second embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the glass film breaking method according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention differs from the glass film breaking method according to the second embodiment described above in the following two points. . (1) A point where the first external force F1 is applied by suctioning two points on the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb. (2) The support roller 1 has a suction hole for suctioning the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb on the outer peripheral portion (the portion where cross hatching is performed in FIG. 7).

  The support roller 1 has a large number of suction holes formed at two positions on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and each suction hole is connected to a negative pressure generating means (for example, a vacuum pump or the like) for generating a negative pressure. Then, with the operation of the negative pressure generating means, a large number of suction holes suck the lower surface Gbb of the effective portion Gb. By this suction, first external force F1 (force to suction the effective portion Gb downward) is applied to two points of the effective portion Gb. In addition, in the support roller 1, two places in which many suction holes were formed are symmetrically arrange | positioned on the basis of the width direction center Gbc of the effective part Gb.

  Also by the method of cutting a glass film according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as the method of cutting a glass film according to the first embodiment.

  Here, the cutting method of the glass film which concerns on this invention is not limited to the aspect demonstrated by said each embodiment. For example, as a modification of the first and third embodiments described above, the intermediate roller may be a roller having the same diameter as the two support rollers and disposed below the two support rollers.

Reference Signs List 1 support roller 2 middle roller 4 rotation axis 7 edge roller 8 rotation axis G ribbon glass film Ga ineffective area Gb effective area Gba upper surface Gbb lower surface Gbc width direction central Gbd end A air F1 first external force F2 second external force

Claims (20)

By continuously cutting the glass ribbon film being conveyed in the flat posture along the longitudinal direction by laser cutting, the non-effective portions respectively existing at both ends in the width direction of the glass ribbon film and the both non-active portions Cutting and separating step to separate the effective part from
A method of cutting a glass film, comprising: a separation step of separating the non-effective part and the effective part in the thickness direction by separating the non-effective part after separation from the transport path of the effective part after separation ,
During execution of the separation step, a first external force having a thickness direction component is applied to two places mutually separated along the width direction in the effective part, and a place located between the two places A glass characterized in that a deformation applying step of curving and deforming the effective portion in the width direction is performed by applying a second external force having a thickness direction component opposite to the first external force. How to cut film.   The first external force is applied by each of the two support rollers supporting the lower surface of the effective portion, and the second external force is applied by the fluid jetted toward the upper surface of the effective portion. The cutting method of the glass film of Claim 1 made into said.   An intermediate roller that supports the lower surface of the effective portion at the location where the fluid is jetted, and the height position supporting the effective portion below the two support rollers is between the two support rollers. The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 2, wherein the method is arranged in   The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate roller is a roller having a rotation axis common to the two support rollers and having a smaller diameter than the two support rollers.   The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the two support rollers and the intermediate roller are free rollers.   The two support rollers are disposed symmetrically with respect to the widthwise center of the effective portion, and the fluid is jetted toward the widthwise center of the effective portion. The cutting method of the glass film as described in.   The method for cutting a glass film according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein both widthwise end portions of the effective portion are respectively supported by the two support rollers.   The first external force is applied by the fluid respectively injected to two places on the upper surface of the effective portion, and the second external force is applied by the support roller supporting the lower surface of the effective portion. The cutting method of the glass film of Claim 1 to be.   An edge roller supporting both widthwise end portions of the effective portion from the lower surface side and having a height position supporting the effective portion below the support roller is one side across the support roller in the width direction The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 8, wherein the method is arranged on the other side and the other side.   The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 9, wherein the support roller and the edge roller are free rollers.   The support roller is characterized in that the two locations at which the fluid is jetted are symmetrical positions with reference to the widthwise center of the effective portion, and the widthwise center of the effective portion is supported by the support roller. The cutting method of the glass film in any one of 10.   The support roller is a roller having a symmetrical shape with respect to the center in the width direction of the effective portion, and a roller whose diameter gradually decreases as it moves outward in the width direction. The cutting method of the glass film as described in.   The first external force is applied by each of two support rollers supporting the lower surface of the effective portion, and the second external force is applied by suctioning the lower surface of the effective portion. The cutting method of the glass film of Claim 1.   An intermediate roller having a suction hole for suctioning the lower surface of the effective portion on the outer peripheral portion, and a height position supporting the effective portion below the two support rollers is the two support rollers The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 13, wherein the method is disposed between each other.   The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 14, wherein the intermediate roller is a roller having a rotation axis common to the two support rollers and having a smaller diameter than the two support rollers.   The method for cutting a glass film according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the two support rollers and the intermediate roller are free rollers.   The glass film according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the two support rollers are arranged symmetrically with reference to the widthwise center of the effective portion, and the widthwise center of the effective portion is sucked. How to cut   The glass film cutting method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein both widthwise end portions of the effective portion are supported by the two support rollers.   The first external force is applied by suctioning two points on the lower surface of the effective portion, and the second external force is applied by a support roller supporting the lower surface of the effective portion. The cutting method of the glass film of Claim 1 to be.   The thickness of the said strip | belt-shaped glass film exists in the range of 200 micrometers-300 micrometers, The cutting method of the glass film in any one of the Claims 1-19 characterized by the above-mentioned.

Images