TWI601703B - Glass forming furnace - Google Patents

Description

Glass forming furnace

A glass forming furnace, in particular, a glass forming furnace capable of providing three heating modes and suitable for various forming processes.

With the advancement of technology, many electronic devices have gradually replaced the traditional mechanical operating devices with touch devices, and increased the operating space and display size to provide a more intuitive and convenient operation, such as a central control screen for smart phones or automobiles. And other devices. Under such a background, the demand for touch devices in different fields is greatly increased, and the glass on the touch device also needs different shapes to match different devices.

At present, the shape of the glass is produced by placing the flat glass raw material on the mold and heating the mold to soften the glass raw material. Subsequently, the glass raw material is bonded to the mold by means of negative pressure or molding, the glass raw material is shaped into a shape corresponding to the mold, and after cooling, the glass element having a specific shape can be completed.

In the process of glass forming, whether the glass raw materials and the mold can be uniformly heated will affect the result of glass forming. If the glass is not uniformly heated, the glass will produce unpredictable errors during the molding process, resulting in lower production efficiency and lower yield, resulting in a lower overall Process Capability Index (CPK).

In the currently used glass forming process, the forming furnace can not uniformly heat the glass. Therefore, how to make the glass uniformly heated during molding and improve the production efficiency is worthy of consideration in the field.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a glass forming furnace capable of providing more uniform heating and increasing the productivity and yield of glass forming.

The invention provides a glass forming furnace comprising a furnace body, a conveying passage, a push rod device, at least one first heater, at least one second heater and a cooling device. The furnace body includes a loading zone, a forming zone, a cooling zone and an unloading zone. The conveying passage is adapted to carry a plurality of forming lower molds. The pusher device is disposed at one end of the conveying passage, and pushes the forming lower mold with a push rod, so that the forming lower mold is sequentially conveyed through the loading zone, the forming zone, the cooling zone and the unloading zone. The first heater is disposed above the conveying passage. The second heater is disposed below the conveying passage. The cooling device is adapted to inject a cooling gas into the cooling zone and sequentially pass the cooling gas through the cooling zone, the forming zone and the loading zone, and the cooling gas exits the furnace body from the loading zone.

In the above glass forming furnace, the first heater and the second heater are resistance heaters.

In the above glass forming furnace, the molding lower mold is made of tantalum carbide, graphite, alloy or aluminum oxide.

In the above glass forming furnace, the cooling gas is nitrogen.

In the above glass forming furnace, the furnace body further includes a heating zone disposed between the forming zone and the loading zone.

The above glass forming furnace further comprises a cooling device, wherein the cooling gas enters the cooling device from the loading zone, and the cooling device is adapted to reduce the temperature of the cooling gas and deliver the cooled cooling gas to the cooling device.

In the above glass forming furnace, a cooling liquid flows through the periphery of the cooling zone.

The above glass forming furnace further comprises at least one pressure device installed above the conveying passage of the forming zone, the pressure device has a pressing rod, and one end of the pressing rod has a molding upper mold and a pressure device It is suitable for moving the pressing rod downward, and clamping the forming upper mold and the forming lower mold.

The above glass forming furnace further includes a vacuum device adapted to provide a vacuum required to form the lower mold through a vacuum line.

10‧‧‧Loading area

20‧‧‧heating area

30‧‧‧Forming area

40‧‧‧Cooling area

50‧‧‧Unloading area

100‧‧‧ glass forming furnace

101‧‧‧ furnace entrance

102‧‧‧ furnace outlet

110‧‧‧Transportation channel

111‧‧‧Molding mold

112‧‧‧Blint glass

113‧‧‧Forming mold

120‧‧‧First heater

121, 131, 142‧‧ ‧ heat

130‧‧‧second heater

140‧‧‧Cooling device

141‧‧‧Cooling gas

150‧‧‧cooling device

160‧‧‧pressure device

161‧‧‧Press

170‧‧‧Pushing device

171‧‧‧Put

180‧‧‧Vacuum device

181‧‧‧vacuum line

451‧‧‧Cooling liquid

Figure 1 shows a glass forming furnace of the present invention.

2A is a schematic view of a furnace body of a glass forming furnace.

FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing the movement of the molding lower mold.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the heating of the forming lower mold and the blank glass.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a glass forming furnace 100 of the present invention. A blank glass 112 is placed on a forming lower mold 111 (shown in FIG. 2), and the forming lower mold 111 can be introduced from the furnace body inlet 101 into the furnace body of the glass forming furnace 100. The glass forming furnace 100 can heat the blank glass 112 and the forming lower mold 111 through a plurality of high temperatures, and the temperature rising blank glass 112 is softened, and then the positive pressure and the negative pressure (vacuum) are applied to make the blank glass 112 according to the forming lower mold 111. Shaped while forming. The formed blank glass 112 and the molding lower mold 111 are cooled and then exit the glass forming furnace 100 from the furnace outlet 102. In the present embodiment, the blank glass 112 is an electronic grade precision glass, and the cost of the formed glass is suitable for various types of electronic products. Hereinafter, the structure and function of the glass forming furnace 100 will be described.

Please refer to FIG. 2A , which is a schematic view of the furnace body of the glass forming furnace 100 . The glass forming furnace 100 includes a furnace body, a conveying passage 110, at least one first heater 120, and at least a second heater 130. A cooling device 140. The furnace body includes a loading area 10, a heating zone 20, a forming zone 30, a cooling zone 40 and a working area such as an unloading zone 50. The conveying passage 110 is adapted to carry a plurality of forming lower molds 111 and a blank glass 112. The glass forming furnace 100 further includes a pusher device 170. The pusher device 170 is disposed at one end of the conveying passage 110. The pusher device 170 further includes a push rod 171, and the push rod 171 pushes the forming lower mold 111 to make a plurality of The forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 are sequentially conveyed through the loading zone 10, the heating zone 20, the molding zone 30, the cooling zone 40, and the unloading zone 50, and the glass heating and forming operations have been completed. Please refer to FIG. 2B , which is a schematic diagram of the movement of the molding lower mold 111 . In the present embodiment, a plurality of forming lower molds 111 are placed on the conveying passage 110, and the lower mold 111 is pushed by the push rod device 170 so that the plurality of forming lower molds 111 can push each other and along the conveying passage. 110 moves.

The first heater 120 is disposed above the delivery channel 110 and has a specific distance from the delivery channel 110. The first heater 120 is adapted to emit heat and heat the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 passing under the first heater 120 via heat radiation.

The second heater 130 is disposed under the conveying passage 110, and the distance between the second heater 130 and the conveying passage 110 is shorter than the distance between the conveying passage 110 and the first heater 120. Therefore, the heat emitted by the second heater 130 is transmitted to the conveying passage 110 via heat radiation, and then transferred to the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 via heat conduction. In other words, the second heater 130 heats the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 in a heat conduction manner.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first heater 120 and the second heater 130 are made of a resistive ceramic heater. Therefore, the first heater 120 and the second heater 130 can heat both the upper and lower sides of the molding lower mold 111, and the effective transfer of temperature can be ensured, and the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 can be uniformly heated.

The cooling device 140 is disposed above the conveying passage and is disposed in the cooling zone 40. The cooling device 140 is adapted to inject a cooling gas 141 into the cooling zone 40, and the cooling device 140 causes the cooling gas 141 to sequentially flow through the cooling zone 40, the forming zone 30, the heating zone 20 and the loading zone 10, and from the loading zone. Zone 10 from a cooling The gas recovery port leaves the furnace body. The forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 in the cooling zone 40 are the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 which have passed through the forming zone 30 with a high temperature, and the cooling gas 141 can form the lower mold 111 and the blank glass in the cooling zone 40. The heat on 112 is taken away, and the temperature of the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 is lowered to be cooled. In the preferred embodiment, the cooling gas 141 used is nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas is a passive gas, so that the nitrogen gas is filled in the furnace body to suppress the activity of oxygen in the furnace body and prevent the oxygen from being generated at a high temperature. The expected activity causes damage to the furnace or mold.

After the cooling gas 141 absorbs the heat of the lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112, the temperature rises, and the cooling gas 141 sequentially passes through the molding zone 30, the heating zone 20, and the unloading zone 10. At this time, the high-temperature cooling gas 141 can also heat the molding upper mold 113, the molding lower mold 111, and the blank glass 112 in the molding zone 30, the heating zone 20, and the unloading zone 10. In other words, the cooling gas 141 can heat the molding upper mold 113, the molding lower mold 111, and the blank glass 112 via heat convection.

After flowing through the cooling zone 40, the forming zone 30, the heating zone 20 and the unloading zone 10, the cooling gas 141 exits the furnace body from the cooling gas recovery port in the unloading zone 10 and enters a cooling device 150. The temperature lowering device 150 can lower the temperature of the cooling gas 141 to return the cooling gas 141 to a temperature before entering the cooling zone 40. The cooled cooling gas 141 is sent to the cooling device 140, completing the circulation of the cooling gas 141, and continuously providing cooling and heat convection heating.

When the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 enter from the furnace body inlet 101, they first reach the loading area 10. In the loading zone, the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 are first heated by the cooling gas 141, and the temperature is gradually increased. When the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 reach the heating zone 20, they are heated by the first heater 120 and the second heater 130, that is, the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 are subjected to the cooling gas 141, A heater 120 and a second heater 130 are simultaneously heated. In the present embodiment, the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 are heated to 750 degrees Celsius in the heating zone 20. Subsequently, the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 reach the molding zone 30, and the temperature thereof is continuously heated to 950 ° C to soften the blank glass 112, and the molding is completed according to the shape of the molding lower mold 111.

In the present embodiment, the molding operation in the molding zone 30 is a molding method in which a positive pressure and a negative pressure are used in common. Accordingly, the glass forming furnace 100 further includes a vacuum device 180 in the forming zone, and the vacuum device 180 can provide a vacuum required to form the lower mold 111 via a vacuum line 181. The vacuum line 181 is disposed below the conveying passage 110 and may correspond to a vacuum hole in the forming lower mold 111. Therefore, the vacuum apparatus 180 adheres the blank glass 112 on the molding lower mold 111 to the molding lower mold 111 by vacuuming, thereby completing the negative pressure molding.

Further, a plurality of pressure devices 160 are disposed in the molding zone 30. The pressure device 160 is disposed above the conveying passage. The pressure device 160 has a pressing rod 161. One end of the pressing rod 161 is provided with a molding upper mold 113. When the molding lower mold 111 enters the molding zone 30, the pressing bar 161 moves downward, and the molding upper die 113 is clamped with the molding lower die 111 to further promote the forming of the blank glass 112. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the glass forming furnace 100 is subjected to a glass forming method of double-sided molding by a positive pressure (provided by the pressure device 161) and a negative pressure (provided by the vacuum device 180).

The formed lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 after the molding is completed enter the cooling zone 40, and the molded lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 are affected by the cooling gas 141 in the cooling zone 40. The cooling gas 141 takes away the heat generated on the lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112, and the temperature of the lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 is gradually lowered. In the present embodiment, the temperature of the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 will be lowered to 550 degrees Celsius. The heat-absorbing cooling gas 141 is circulated in the direction of the furnace body inlet 101, and the other molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 are heated.

In the preferred embodiment, there is a cooling liquid 451 flowing through the cooling zone 40, and the cooling liquid 451 flows through the periphery of the cooling zone 40, thereby taking the temperature of the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 away. The temperature of the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 is rapidly lowered to 150 degrees Celsius. In the present embodiment, the circulation line of the cooling liquid 451 is disposed at the periphery of 0 of the cooling zone 40. That is to say, the cooling liquid 451 is not in direct contact with the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112, but is cooled by indirect contact. cold However, liquid 451 is a liquid having a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. The formed lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 which have been cooled are separated from the unloading zone 50 and the furnace outlet 102, and the next process is performed.

Moreover, the working areas of the loading zone 10, the heating zone 20, the forming zone 30, the cooling zone 40, and the unloading zone 50 in the furnace body are linearly arranged to facilitate the flow of the cooling gas 141, and the cooling gas 141 can be effectively improved. The heat convection heating effect further averages the heat of the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112.

Further, in the present embodiment, the molding lower mold 111 is made of a highly thermally conductive material such as tantalum carbide, aluminum oxide or graphite or alloy. Therefore, the molding lower mold 111 itself also has a preferable thermal conductivity. Therefore, in the process of molding the lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112, the lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 can be heated and formed more quickly and uniformly, while reducing heat loss during heating.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which illustrates a schematic view of the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 being heated. As described above, in the glass forming furnace 100 of the present invention, the molding lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 are heated by at least heat from three heat sources. They are:

1. Heat 121 from the first heater 120 heated from the upper mold 111 and the blank glass 112 via thermal radiation.

2. Heat 131 from the second heater 130 that is heated by heat conduction from under the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112.

3. Heat 142 heated from heat convection by cooling gas 141 from cooling gas 141 which is turned to a high temperature by heat absorption.

Through the heating of the above three heat sources, the heat of the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 can be more uniform, and the quality of the glass forming can be greatly improved. Therefore, the glass forming furnace 100 of the present invention can uniformly heat the forming lower mold 111 and the blank glass 112 without installing a soaking plate required for the conventional forming furnace. And through the linear work area arrangement, it can effectively increase the production capacity, shorten the time required for glass forming, and greatly improve the process capability index.

100‧‧‧ glass forming furnace

101‧‧‧ furnace entrance

102‧‧‧ furnace outlet

Claims (8)

A glass forming furnace comprising: a furnace body, comprising a loading zone, a forming zone, a cooling zone and an unloading zone; a conveying channel adapted to carry a plurality of forming lower molds; a pusher device, Provided at one end of the conveying passage, pushing the forming lower mold with a push rod, and sequentially conveying the forming lower mold through the loading area, the forming area, the cooling area and the unloading area; at least one first heater Provided above the conveying passage; at least one second heater disposed under the conveying passage; and a cooling device adapted to inject a cooling gas into the cooling zone, and sequentially pass the cooling gas through the cooling zone, The molding zone and the loading zone, the cooling gas exits the furnace body from the loading zone, wherein the first heater and the second heater are resistive ceramic heaters. The glass forming furnace according to claim 1, wherein the forming lower mold is made of tantalum carbide, graphite, alloy or alumina. The glass forming furnace according to claim 1, wherein the cooling gas is nitrogen. The glass forming furnace of claim 1, wherein the furnace body further comprises a heating zone disposed between the forming zone and the loading zone. The glass forming furnace of claim 1, further comprising a cooling device, wherein the cooling gas enters the cooling device from the loading region, the cooling device is adapted to reduce the temperature of the cooling gas, and after cooling The cooling gas is delivered to the cooling device. A glass forming furnace according to claim 1, wherein a cooling liquid flows through the periphery of the cooling zone. The glass forming furnace of claim 1, further comprising at least one pressure device mounted above the conveying passage of the forming zone, the pressure device having a pressing rod, the pressing rod One end has a forming upper mold, and the pressure device is adapted to move the pressing rod downward to mold the forming upper mold and the forming lower mold. The glass forming furnace of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum device adapted to provide a vacuum required for forming the lower mold through a vacuum line.