JPWO2020071353A1 - Flat glass manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A plate glass manufacturing apparatus having a glass ribbon production capacity of 10 kg / hour or more, which is a melting unit that melts raw materials to form molten glass and a molding unit that molds the molten glass to form a glass ribbon. A flat glass manufacturing apparatus having a slow cooling unit for slowly cooling the glass ribbon and a cutting unit for cutting the glass ribbon, and each unit can be replaced with another unit corresponding to the slow cooling unit. ..

Description

The present invention relates to a flat glass manufacturing apparatus.

The flat glass is mainly produced by a continuous forming process such as a down draw method and a float method (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

A typical example of the down draw method is the fusion method.

In this method, the molten glass obtained by first melting the glass raw material is supplied to the upper part of a molding member (hereinafter, referred to as “molding member”). The molded member has a substantially wedge shape with a downwardly pointed cross section, and the molten glass flows down along two opposing side surfaces of the molded member. The molten glass flowing down along both side surfaces merges and is integrated at the lower end of the forming member (referred to as "merging point"), whereby the glass ribbon is formed. After that, the glass ribbon is towed downward while being slowly cooled by a towing member such as a roller, and is cut to a predetermined size.

On the other hand, in the float method, the glass ribbon is formed by transporting the molten glass on the molten tin. The glass ribbon is then slowly cooled and cut to a predetermined size.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-028005 Tokukousho 48-20761

Although the conventional flat glass manufacturing apparatus is suitable for mass-producing flat glass having the same composition, it is not suitable for producing a plurality of types of flat glass having different compositions. This is because the temperature characteristics, viscosity characteristics, and the like of the flat glass differ depending on the composition, and the appropriate equipment used, manufacturing conditions, and the like differ depending on the composition.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flat glass manufacturing apparatus capable of appropriately manufacturing a plurality of types of flat glass having different compositions.

In the present invention, it is a plate glass manufacturing apparatus having a glass ribbon production capacity of 10 kg / hour or more.
A melting unit that melts raw materials to form molten glass,
A molding unit that molds the molten glass to form a glass ribbon,
A slow cooling unit that slowly cools the glass ribbon,
A cutting unit that cuts the glass ribbon and
Have,
Each of the units is provided with a flat glass manufacturing apparatus that can be replaced with another corresponding unit.

The present invention can provide a flat glass manufacturing apparatus capable of appropriately manufacturing a plurality of types of flat glass having different compositions.

It is a schematic block diagram of the plate glass manufacturing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the state when the selected unit is replaced with the existing unit. It is the figure which showed typically the state when the selected unit is replaced with the existing unit. It is sectional drawing which shows typically an example of the structure of the molding means provided in the molding unit in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention.

As described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to properly manufacture a plurality of types of flat glass having different compositions with a conventional flat glass manufacturing apparatus.

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention,
A flat glass manufacturing device having a glass ribbon production capacity of 10 kg / hour or more.
A melting unit that melts raw materials to form molten glass,
A molding unit that molds the molten glass to form a glass ribbon,
A slow cooling unit that slowly cools the glass ribbon,
A cutting unit that cuts the glass ribbon and
Have,
Each of the units is provided with a flat glass manufacturing apparatus that can be replaced with another corresponding unit.

Here, "each unit can be replaced with another corresponding unit" means that one melting unit can be replaced with another melting unit, and one molding unit can be replaced with another molding unit. This means that one slow cooling unit can be replaced with another slow cooling unit and one cutting unit can be replaced with another.

In such a plate glass manufacturing apparatus, each of the melting unit, the forming unit, the slow cooling unit, and the cutting unit can be appropriately switched to an appropriate one according to the plate glass to be manufactured.

For example, when manufacturing a plate glass A having a certain composition, a production line is constructed by using a melting unit A, a molding unit A, a slow cooling unit A, and a cutting unit A, and a plate glass B having another composition is produced. In some cases, an appropriate production line can be constructed according to the plate glass to be manufactured, such as constructing a production line using the melting unit B, the molding unit B, the slow cooling unit B, and the cutting unit B. ..

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately manufacture a plurality of types of flat glass having different compositions.

(A device for manufacturing a flat glass according to an embodiment of the present invention)
Hereinafter, the flat glass manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a flat glass manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as “first manufacturing apparatus”) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a melting unit 110, a molding unit 130, a slow cooling unit 150, and a cutting unit 170. The melting unit 110, the forming unit 130, the slow cooling unit 150, and the cutting unit 170 are integrated in this order to form the flat glass production line 12.

The melting unit 110 is a place in the first manufacturing apparatus 100 that has a function of melting raw materials and forming molten glass. The molding unit 130 is a place having a function of molding the molten glass supplied from the melting unit 110 to form a glass ribbon. The slow cooling unit 150 is a place having a function of slowly cooling the glass ribbon supplied from the molding unit 130. Further, the cutting unit 170 is a place having a function of cutting the slowly cooled glass ribbon.

Here, in the first manufacturing apparatus 100, the melting unit 110, the molding unit 130, the slow cooling unit 150, and the cutting unit 170 are respectively configured to be removable from the production line 12.

Further, the first manufacturing apparatus 100 has a plurality of melting units 110, molding units 130, slow cooling units 150, and cutting units 170, respectively.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the first manufacturing apparatus 100 has four dissolution units, namely, a first dissolution unit 110A, a second dissolution unit 110B, a third dissolution unit 110C, and a fourth dissolution unit. It has a dissolution unit 110D. Further, the first manufacturing apparatus 100 has four molding units, that is, a first molding unit 130A, a second molding unit 130B, a third molding unit 130C, and a fourth molding unit 130D. Further, the first manufacturing apparatus 100 includes four slow cooling units, that is, a first slow cooling unit 150A, a second slow cooling unit 150B, a third slow cooling unit 150C, and a fourth slow cooling unit 150D. Has. Further, the first manufacturing apparatus 100 has four cutting units, that is, a first cutting unit 170A, a second cutting unit 170B, a third cutting unit 170C, and a fourth cutting unit 170D.

Hereinafter, the number of candidates included in each unit will be referred to as a “selection number”. In the above example, the number of selections of the melting unit 110, the molding unit 130, the slow cooling unit 150, and the cutting unit 170 is four.

However, these examples are merely examples, and the number of selections of each unit may be any number of 2 or more. Moreover, the number of selections may be different in each unit.

The first manufacturing apparatus 100 having such a configuration is used as follows.

First, when the first plate glass having a certain composition is manufactured by using the first manufacturing apparatus 100, the melting unit 110, the molding unit 130, the slow cooling unit 150, and the cutting unit 170 are each selected from the candidates. The optimum unit is selected. In addition, the selected units are combined with each other to construct the production line 12.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the first melting unit 110A is selected as the melting unit 110, the first molding unit 130A is selected as the molding unit 130, and the first slow cooling unit 150 is the first slow cooling unit 150. The cold unit 150A is selected, and the first cutting unit 170A is selected as the cutting unit 170.

Next, the selected units are combined with each other to construct a production line 12 for the first flat glass as shown in FIG.

If necessary, adjacent units may be "connected" to each other.

In the present application, "connection" means that two units are mechanically connected to each other.

For example, when the melting unit 110A has a molten glass discharge port and the molding unit 130A has a molten glass receiving portion, the discharging port of the melting unit 110A and the receiving portion of the molding unit 130A are "connected" to each other. May be done. Also, if the molding unit 130A and the slow cooling unit 150A each have a glass ribbon transport path, both transport paths may be "connected".

The first flat glass is manufactured using such a production line 12.

After that, when producing a second flat glass having a different composition, for example, the second melting unit 110B is selected as the melting unit 110, and the second molding unit 130B is selected as the molding unit 130. The second slow cooling unit 150B is selected as the slow cooling unit 150, and the second cutting unit 170B is selected as the cutting unit 170.

Further, the selected units 110B, 130B, 150B and 170B are combined with each other to construct a production line for the second flat glass. Then, a second flat glass is manufactured using this newly constructed production line.

By such a method, the first manufacturing apparatus 100 can appropriately manufacture a plurality of types of flat glass having different compositions, which has been difficult in the past to be properly manufactured.

By the way, in order to construct a new production line for the second plate glass from the existing production line for the first plate glass, each existing unit constituting the production line 12 for the first plate glass ( For example, the first melting unit 110A, the first molding unit 130A, the first slow cooling unit 150A, and the first cutting unit 170A) need to be moved once from the current position. Further, in the space vacated by the movement of the existing units 110A, 130A, 150A, 170A, newly selected units (for example, the second melting unit 110B, the second molding unit 130B, and the second slow cooling unit 150B) are used. , Second cutting unit 170B) needs to be installed.

Hereinafter, an example for carrying out such a “replacement operation” will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Here, the replacement operation will be described by taking the dissolution unit 110 as an example.

2 and 3 schematically show a state when the existing unit is replaced with the selected unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first standby area 115 and a second standby area 117 are provided in one section (hereinafter, referred to as “section 10”) in which the first manufacturing apparatus 100 is installed.

Both standby areas 115 and 117 are arranged so that an installation area 111 is interposed between them.

The installation area 111 is an area in which the selected melting unit 110 is arranged in the flat glass production line 12. Further, the first standby area 115 and the second standby area 117 are areas provided for securing a place to save the unselected melting unit.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the first dissolution unit 110A is arranged in the installation area 111, and the other dissolution units 110B to 110D are all waiting in the first standby area 115.

Within the compartment 10, two rails 102 are arranged parallel to each other from the first standby area 115 to the second standby area 117 (along the vertical direction in the example shown in FIG. 2). There is. Also, although not clear from FIG. 2, each unit has wheels attached to the bottom. With such wheels, the unit to which the wheels are attached can be moved to a predetermined position along the rail 102 or stopped at a predetermined position.

In such a state, for example, when replacing the first melting unit 110A installed in the installation area 111 with the fourth melting unit 110D, the first melting unit 110A first moves along the rail 102 along the arrow A. It is moved in the direction of and moved into the second standby area 117. Next, the second melting unit 110B and the third melting unit 110C are also similarly moved along the rail 102 in the direction of arrow A and moved from the first standby region 115 to the second standby region 117. Will be done.

Next, the fourth melting unit 110D is also moved along the rail 102 in the direction of arrow A. However, the fourth melting unit 110D is not moved to the second standby area 117 and is stopped in the installation area 111. As a result, the fourth melting unit 110D that was in the first standby area 115 can be relocated to the installation area 111.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a state in which the fourth melting unit 110D has been relocated to the installation area 111.

In this way, in the production line 12, the first dissolution unit 110A can be replaced with the fourth dissolution unit 110D.

In the above example, a method of replacing the first dissolution unit 110A with the fourth dissolution unit 110D has been described, but it is clear to those skilled in the art that the replacement of different units can be performed in the same manner.

Further, in the molding unit 130, the slow cooling unit 150, and the cutting unit 170, the existing unit and the selected unit can be replaced by the same method.

However, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is not always necessary to replace all four units constituting the production line 12 at the time of replacement. For example, among the units constituting the production line 12, only three or less units may be replaced with the selected ones.

Further, the above replacement method is merely an example, and the existing unit and the selected unit may be replaced by any method.

For example, instead of the horizontal slide with or without rails as described above, each unit is moved up and down using a means capable of raising / lowering each unit, such as a hydraulic jack. The units may be replaced by sliding. Alternatively, a combination of horizontal and vertical movements may be used. Further, the units may be replaced by rotating each unit horizontally using a turntable.

(About each unit)
Next, the configuration of each unit included in the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail. Here, each unit will be described by taking the first manufacturing apparatus 100 as an example. Therefore, when describing each unit, the reference numerals used in FIGS. 1 to 3 are used.

(Dissolution unit 110)
As described above, the melting unit 110 has a function of melting the raw material and forming molten glass. The amount of molten glass produced may be, for example, 10 kg / hour or more.

The melting unit 110 may have, for example, a melting furnace for melting raw materials. Such a melting furnace usually has a raw material dosing port and a molten glass outlet.

The melting furnace may be a so-called "continuous furnace". Here, the "continuous furnace" means a melting furnace in which the supply amount of the raw material and the discharge amount of the molten glass can be made substantially equal.

In each melting unit 110A to 110D, the composition of the melting furnace, for example, the material and / or the capacity of the furnace may be different.

(Molding unit 130)
As described above, the molding unit 130 has a function of molding the molten glass supplied from the melting unit 110 to form a glass ribbon. The amount of glass ribbon produced may be, for example, 10 kg / hour or more.

The molding unit 130 may have, for example, a float bath containing a molten metal (eg, molten tin) as used in conventional float methods. In this case, the molding unit 130 may further include a transport means for transporting the glass ribbon on the molten metal, an atmosphere control means for the space including the float bath, and / or a temperature control means for the glass ribbon. ..

Alternatively, the molding unit 130 may have a glass ribbon molding means, for example, as used in conventional fusion methods.

FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of the configuration of such a molding means.

As shown in FIG. 4, the molding means 138 has a housing member 140.

The accommodating member 140 has an upper member 142 and a bottom member 145.

The upper member 142 has an upper surface 142a and four side surfaces 142b surrounding the upper surface 142a. A recess 144 having an open upper surface is formed on the upper surface 142a. Further, the two opposite side surfaces 142b extend in parallel with each other along the vertical direction (the downward direction of the paper surface) and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface.

On the other hand, the bottom member 145 of the accommodating member 140 has a substantially inverted triangular cross section, and has two slopes 146a and 146b and an apex 146c connecting both slopes. The first slope 146a, the second slope 146b, and the apex 146c each extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, so that the lower portion of the accommodating member 140 has a substantially triangular prism shape.

The upper portion of the first slope 146a is connected to one side surface 142b of the upper member 142, and the upper portion of the second slope 146b is connected to one side surface 142b of the upper member 142.

When the glass ribbon is formed by using the molding unit 130 having such a molding means 138, the molten glass 180 is supplied to the recess 144 of the upper member 142 of the accommodating member 140. The molten glass 180 is supplied from the melting unit 110.

The recess 144 accommodates the molten glass 180. However, when the molten glass 180 exceeding the accommodating volume of the recess 144 is supplied, the molten glass 180 overflows along the opposite side surface 142b of the accommodating member 140, and the first molten glass portion 182a and the second molten glass It becomes a part 182b.

After that, the first molten glass portion 182a flows further downward along the first slope 146a of the accommodating member 140. Similarly, the second molten glass portion 182b flows further downward along the second slope 146b of the accommodating member 140.

As a result, the first molten glass portion 182a and the second molten glass portion 182b reach the apex 146c, where they are integrated.

After that, the fused glass becomes a glass ribbon 184, which is further stretched in the vertical direction by a traction means (not shown) such as a roller. The glass ribbon 184 is then supplied to the slow cooling unit 150 (not shown in FIG. 4).

The molding unit 130 may have such a configuration.

In this case, the molding unit 130 may further include an atmosphere control means of the molding means 138 and / or a temperature control means of the glass ribbon 184.

The width of the glass ribbon 184 manufactured by the molding unit 130 may be, for example, 200 mm or more.

The molding units 130A to 130D may have different accessories and / or dimensions depending on the type of flat glass to be manufactured (for example, composition, thickness, and / or width).

(Slow cooling unit 150)
As described above, the slow cooling unit 150 has a function of slowly cooling the glass ribbon supplied from the molding unit 130.

The slow cooling unit 150 may include, for example, a transport means for transporting the glass ribbon, such as a roller and / or a belt conveyor.

The slow cooling unit 150 may have a slow cooling furnace that extends in a substantially horizontal direction, for example, as used in a conventional float method. The total length of such a slow cooling furnace may be in the range of, for example, 1000 mm to 30,000 mm. Alternatively, the slow cooling unit 150 may have a slow cooling furnace that extends in a substantially vertical direction, for example, as used in a conventional fusion method. The total length of such a slow cooling furnace may be in the range of, for example, 1000 mm to 20000 mm.

The dimensions of the slow cooling furnace may be changed according to the type of flat glass to be manufactured (for example, composition, thickness, and / or width).

In each slow cooling unit 150A to 150D, the transport means and / or the slow cooling furnace may be different.

(Cut unit 170)
As described above, the cutting unit 170 has a function of cutting the glass ribbon after slow cooling supplied from the slow cooling unit 150.

The cutting unit 170 has a cutting means for cutting the glass ribbon. Such cutting means may include, for example, a cutting cutter that moves (up) downward to cut the glass ribbon, a sliding cutter that moves horizontally to cut the glass ribbon, and a laser cutting machine. good.

In each cutting unit 170A to 170D, these cutting means may be different.

(First manufacturing apparatus 100)
It is preferable that the first manufacturing apparatus 100 can continuously manufacture flat glass.

The first manufacturing apparatus 100 has a manufacturing capacity of, for example, 10 kg or more of flat glass per unit time. The manufacturing capacity of the first manufacturing apparatus 100 may be 40 kg / hour or more.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-189418 filed on October 4, 2018, and the entire contents of the Japanese application are incorporated herein by reference.

10 Section 12 Production line 100 1st production equipment 102 Rail 110 Melting unit 110A to 110D 1st to 4th melting units 111 Installation area 115 1st standby area 117 2nd standby area 130 Molding unit 130A to 130D 1st ~ 4th molding unit 138 Molding means 140 Housing member 142 Top member 142a Top surface 142b Side surface 144 Recession 145 Bottom member 146a, 146b Slope 146c Top 150 Slow cooling unit 150A ~ 150D 1st to 4th slow cooling unit 170 Cutting unit 170A ~ 170D 1st to 4th cutting units 180 molten glass 182a 1st molten glass part 182b 2nd molten glass part 184 glass ribbon

Claims (6)

A flat glass manufacturing device having a glass ribbon production capacity of 10 kg / hour or more.
A melting unit that melts raw materials to form molten glass,
A molding unit that molds the molten glass to form a glass ribbon,
A slow cooling unit that slowly cools the glass ribbon,
A cutting unit that cuts the glass ribbon and
Have,
A flat glass manufacturing apparatus in which each of the above units can be replaced with another corresponding unit. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each unit is slidably movable in the vertical direction and / or the horizontal direction. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the other unit is slidably movable in substantially the same direction as the corresponding unit. The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the total width of the glass ribbon molded by the molding unit is 200 mm or more. The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the molding unit includes a float bath. The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the melting unit has a continuous furnace capable of making the input amount of raw materials and the output amount of molten glass substantially equal.

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