US2601725A - Glass-cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1952 u G. HENRY ETAI. 2,601,725

GLAsswcUTTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 1, 1952 G. HENRY ET AL 2,601,725

GLASS-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 /M/NTOKS GEORGS HENRY, MARC DELACUVELLERIE pmp BRICHARP 3) tgv.

AG E NTS July 1, 1952 G. HENRY ETAL 2,601,725

GLASS-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 4 Slfxeets--Sheecl I5 GEORGES HaNRy, mRc prima. UVELLER; E

@am 3R14: HAU

AGENTS July 1, 1952 G. HENRY ET Al. 25019725 GLASS-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NVENToR-s GEORGES HENRy, MARC PLAaUVELLERIEf EpQARy BKlcHA AGENTS Patented July l, 1951?I GLASS-CUTTING MACHINE Georges Henry, Dampremy, Edgard Brchard,

Jumet, and Marc Delacuvellerie, Loverval, Belgium, assignors to Union des Verreries Mecaniques Belges, Societe Anonyme, Charleroi, Belgium, a Belgian company Application December 20, 1945, Serial No. 636,104 In Belgium March 2, 1945 11 Claims.

This invention relates to cutting glass sheets by drawing two series of cutting lines, which lines are usually at right angles to obtain rectangular panes, but may also be at any other angle.

In existing machines adapted to cut glass by drawing two series of parallel cutting lines at right angles to each other, it is necessary to interrupt the drawing of said lines in order to perform various operations such as positioning, transporting and removing the glass sheets and also enabling the cutting tools to perform their return stroke. These repeated interruptions give rise to considerable loss of time and to a substantial reduction in the output of the machine.

The object of the present invention is to obviate these inconveniences and to carry out the operations as a cycle in which the cutting lines are drawn in succession Without interruption. To this end, according to our invention a series of parallel lines are drawn by a set of travelling tools while the glass sheet is stationary, and the other series of parallel lines are drawn by a set of stationary tools While the sheet moves towards or away from its stationary position, and simultaneously the travelling tools are caused to perform their return stroke. A fresh sheet being brought forward after each sheet has been cut, the position after one cycle of operations is such that a new identical cycle can be started without any interruption taking place in drawing the cutting lines.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine for carrying out the above process, such machine having two sets of tools, one being movable relatively to the machine frame, the other being stationary and placed in front of or behind the path covered by the movable orso called travelling tools, so that the sheet subjected to the action of the travelling tools be cut by the stationary tools either when it moves towards the requisite position under the travelling tools, or away from such position. The machine also comprises various auxiliary mechanisms, in particular means for transporting the glass sheet,

. for operating the travelling tools and the stationary tools, for adjusting the position of the sheet relatively to the tools and for adjusting the position of one set of tools relatively to the other.

The features of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, an embodiment of the new machine in which the glass sheet is successively subjected to the action of the travelling tools and of the stationary tools.

In thedrawngs: Fig. l is a general View of the machine in side elevation,

Figs. 2 and 3 show a plan view and a front elevation respectively of the same machine;

Figs. 4 to l2 illustrate on a larger scale constructional details of the machine,

5 Fig. 4 showing a detail of the transporter guiding means, i

Fig. 5 being a view of the carriage carrying the travelling tools,

Figs. 6 and 7 being vertical sectional views of 10 the means for operating the travelling tools,

taken on lines VI-VI and VII-VII respectively of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 being a plan view corresponding to Figs. 6 and '7,

Figs. 9 and 10 being enlarged sectional views of the means for operating the stationary tools, taken on lines IX-IX and X--X respectively of Fig. 2,

Figs. 1l and 12 being a front elevation and a side elevation respectively of a stop for adjusting the position of the glass sheet.

Fig. 13 is a diagram of electrical connections for the operating means.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a ramp provided for raising the travelling tools at the end of the cutting operation thereof.

The machine illustrated comprises essentially three main parts, to wit, a conveyor, a travelling carriage adapted to move above one portion of the conveyor transversely thereof, and a set of tools mounted in xed position above the other portion of the conveyor so as to cut the glass sheet moving along said portion.

The conveyor comprises an endless carrier I formed of straight cross-boards or slats secured being carried by cross bars 5 which in turn rest on the machine frame 6 (Fig. l)

The endless chains 6 mesh with gears l rotated by a motor 8 through a reducing gear and a clutch (not shown). The motor 8 may also operate in synchronism auxiliary conveyors arranged in front of or behind the conveyor In Figs. l and 2 we have shown at 9 a conveyor arranged in front of conveyor I and operated from the latter through the chain I0.

Secured above the front portion of conveyor I are cross bars II carrying rails I2 on which runs a carriage I3 provided with bearings It in which is journalled an oscillating shaft I 5 carrying cutting tools I6 (Fig. 5).

The carriage I3 has wheels Il' with horizontal axes and it is guided along the rails I2 by rollers I8 with vertical axes, which are spring-pressed against the sides of the rails I2. On the carriage I3 is mounted a motor I9 which, through the intermediary of a reducing gear 23 (Fig. 2), rotates a shaft 2l carrying pinions 22 (Fig. 5). These pinions mesh with a chain 23 which extends between brackets 24 on the machine frame and passes on tensioning pinions 25 so that rotation of the shaft 2l in one or the other direction causes the carriage I3 to move forward or backward on the rails I2 along Va strictly rectilinear Y Y path across the conveyor I. A

The movement of the carriage I3 is controlled by operating Ya hand switch 25 (Figs. 2, 3 and 13) which starts the motor I9 and is thereafter substituted through the action of a relay (not shown) by a switch 21 operated at the end of the return stroke. At the end of its operative stroke the carriage strikes against the change-over switch 28 which causes thermotor I3 to start again in reverse direction Vand'causes the carriage to rcturn to its( starting point. At the moment of reaching same the carriage operatesA the switch 21 and thus brings about its own stoppage.

On the other hand, at the end of its operative stroke the carriage I3 which carries an abutment 29 causes the same to operate a switch 30 which through the intermediary of a relay (Fig. 13) sends current to the motor 3 and starts themovement of the conveyors I and 9. Thus, feeding of the glass sheet takes place during the return stroke of the carriage I3.

For the sake of clearness, the carriage I3 as illustrated in Fig. 2 is supposed to have been pushed beyond the .end of Vits stroke, it will be understood that the switches 21, 23 are adjustable in position along the rails II according to the width of the sheets to be cut.

The throwing into and throwing out of operation of the cutting tools I5are conveniently controlled by the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8. In this mechanism each tool I6 is carried by an arm 3I rigid with a hub 32 loosely mounted on shaft I5. The arm 3J is adapted to be lifted by a yoke 33 carried by collars 34 secured to the shaft I5.

Another collar 35 also secured to the shaft I5 carries a nger 36 which, at the end of the operative stroke of carriage I3, engages a ramp 423 (Fig. 14) whereby it is lifted, causing the shaft I5 to oscillate and to swing upwardly the yoke 33 and therewith the arm 3l and the tools I5, the position then being as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 6 and in full lines in Fig. 7.

At that moment a projection 31 on the collar 35 is engaged by a latch 38 pivoted at 39 to the side wall of carriage I3 and pressed by a spring 4I against the periphery of collar 35. The tool carrying arm 3l thus is maintained in raised position during the entire inoperative or return stroke of the carriage I3. At the end of that stroke the finger 36 engages a ramp 42 and causes the shaft I5 to turn and move the projection 31 away from the latch 38 while the tail piece 43 of the latch strikes against a spring stop 44, whereby the latch is lifted and disengaged from the pro-V j ection 31.

The movement of the carriage I3 then being reversed the finger 35 rides down the ramp 42, the tools I6 are graduallyv lowered onto the glass and a new operative stroke begins. The latch 38 drops on the collar 35 beyond the projection 31 and is ready to catch same as soon as the tools I6 are again lifted.

As above stated, the motor 8 operating the conveyors I and 9 is started by the closing of Crt switch 30 at the end of the operative stroke of the travelling tools IB. The glass sheet thus is fed from the front portionof conveyorvl situated under the rails I2 to the rear portion which is situated beyond said rails, the stationary tools 45 being located at the entrance to said rear portion.

The tools 45 are carried by arms 46 loosely mounted on a shaft 41 which extends across and .above the conveyor I and is adapted to oscillate inV bearings 48 carried by side plates 49 adjustably securedto the frame 5 of the machine. The operation of the tools 45 is controlled electrically by means of a switch 50 which is operated by the edges ofthe glass sheet in the following manner.

Normally the tools 45 are held in the raised position by an electro-magnet 5I whose armature is mounted at the end of `,an arrn52 secured to the Shaft 41 01,1 which are alseseeured relies, 53 for lifting the tool carrier armsr46'. Whenthe conveyor I brings the leading edge of a sheet under'the tools 45, this edge engagcsWthe switch 50 (Figs. 10 and 13) which Opens. de-eneresesthe electro-,magnet 5I andallows thetoelsd :to drap onto the glass by the action of gravity. 1n order to avoid premature dropping' of the tools ,and4 shocks liable to injure same, their downward movement is slowed downbyacam 54 Aof decreasing radius (Fig. 9) which is pivoted onaniarnfrV secured to the shaft 41. When vthe .tools 45 are raised,l the cam 54 glideswithoutpressinglon,the surface of the glass or, asl shown, on-theperiphery of a pulley 56 or other surface movedain synchronism with Vthe glass. Aspsoon as theshaft 41 is freed by the electro-magnetI, the weight of the partsycarried thereby reststhrough 'the cam 5.4 on the pulley 5.6; the cam .thenrevolves on the .pulley and the tools.aregradually'brought down until they bear `on the glass.

The @am 54 thus. Servesa twefeld, purpose: it. slows down the drop of the tools .SQ @5.709. avoid a violent contact with thed glass ar1 :litretards the moment when they touch theglass untlthe edge of the glasssheet'has; moved to, the desired position with respect to the startingpointof; the cutting line.

When the trailing edgeoffthe. glass` sheet .passes under the switch 50, the latter is closed .by the action of a spring, the electro-magnet` 5:1 vdraws its armature and lifts the1 tools.before` they are reached by the trailing edge. In its lifting-'movement, the armature of electro-magnet 5I ternporarily closes a contact 51- (Fig s,2and 1,3) which acts on relay 4I) to cut` the current-,in thegconveyor motorv 8. When the conveyor stops,vvth e glass sheet has been scratched in two perpendicular directions and is readyto Ibe removed from the machine.

The cycle 0f operetienswhieh.thushasbeen.

angles to the direction of movement of the conveyor;

(3) A sheet c is placed on the auxiliary conveyor 9 in front of the main conveyor I.

The second stage, during which the conveyors are in operation, is automatically controlled .by the operation of the change-over switch 28 and of the switch 30. It comprises the following simultaneous operations:

(4) The conveyor I is set into motion; it carries the sheet b under the stationary tools 45 which are brought down and draw the second series of cutting lines in a direction parallel to the movement of the conveyor, while the sheet moves away from. the working zone of the machine;

(5) The carriage I3 with the travelling lcools I6 thereon moves back to its starting point, the tools I6 being lifted;

(6) The sheet c is carried by the conveyor 9 onto the conveyor IY and comes to a stop under the carriage I3, while at the same time the stationary tools 45 are lifted.

The cycle then is completed: the machine is in the same position as it was when starting: a sheet has been scratched and removed and a fresh sheet has taken its place and is in working position.

The distance d between tw-o successive sheets on the conveyor is determined by the distance between the leading edge of the sheet positioned under the carriage I3 and the stationary tools 45. As this distance corresponds to a space on the conveyor which is not utilised, it is of course desirable that said distance be as small as possible in order to increase the output of the machine. It cannot be reduced to zero, but it is possible to reach the same result, as regards the output, by making said distance d equal to the length of a glass sheet, or to a multiple of such length. It is then possible to place in the free interval one or more additional sheets on the conveyor so that the sheets thereon follow each other without any substantial interval, and the movement of the conveyor, during one cycle, is reduced to the length of one sheet.

This condition can be easily fulfilled by adjusting the position of the said plates 49 on the machine frame 6, according to the length of the sheets to be cut, provided of course such length remains uniform. The operations are carried `out as described above with this diierence only,

that two different sheets are successively scratched, one lengthwise, the other crosswise, but as before, a sheet scratched in both directions is delivered by the machine at the end of each cycle.

It is of importance that the position of each sheet be correctly determined in the transverse as well as in the longitudinal direction.

In order to determine the position of the sheet in the transverse direction, so that the Width of the uncut side edges be uniform, We use an adjustable abutment 58 (Fig. 2) mounted for example in a guide 5B at right angles to the conveyor 9 and actuated through rod and crank 60, 6I by a motor 62 when the switch 5U energises the electro-magnet 5I controlling the lifting of the tools 45. The positioning of the sheet thus takes place while the conveyors I and 9 are stationary.

`The longitudinal position of the sheet under the travelling carriage I3 is controlled by a stop 63 (Figs. 1, 11 and 12) which is pivoted at 64 to the machine frame and is pressed against the conveyor I by a spring 65 so that it catches the leading edge of the sheet fed under the carriage I3. Before the conveyor is set in motion, the stop 65 is automatically raised by a cam 65 secured to and extending under the carriage I3. When the carriage I3 reaches the end of its operative stroke and theconveyor is started, the cam 66 engages under a nose 6l rigid with the stop 65 and lifts said stop for the time necessary to enable the leading edge of the sheet to pass thereunder. It moves down during the return stroke of the travelling carriage and is again in its position of engagement when the next sheet arrives.

It is understood that modications may be made in the machine described without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus the sequence of the two process stages forming a cycle may be inverted without changing the result or the total duration of these operations. It is only necessary to that end to place the stationary set of tools 45 in front of the travelling carriage and to change accordingly the electric connections.

The means for operating the stationary and the travelling tools mayV also be substituted by equivalent means, for example with pneumatic instead of electric control.

It should also be understood that the machine may be arranged for cutting the glass in two directions at any angle to each other, or even in parallel directions, one set of cutters then drawing lines in alternating relation to those drawn by the cutters of the other set.A

We claim:

1. In a machine for cutting glass the. combination of a machine frame, an endless conveyor on said frame, said conveyor being of suicient length to carry at least two sheets of glass in alignment, a carriage travelling above and across a part f said conveyor, a set of cutting tools on said carriage, a stationary shaft on said machine frame extending over and across said conveyor, a set of cutting tools on said shaft, means for intermittently moving said conveyor', means for causing the tools on said travelling carriage to operate on a glass sheet while said sheet is stationary, means for causing the tools on said stationary shaft to operate on a glass sheet while said sheet is moving thereunder, reciprocating means for determining the position of the glass sheets on said conveyor transversely thereof, and means actuated by said carriage for determining said position in the longitudinal direction.

2. In a machine for cutting glass the combination of a machine frame, an endless conveyor on said frame, said conveyor being of sucient length to carry at least two Vsheets, of glass in alignment, a carriage travelling above and across a part of saidconveyor, a set of cutting tools on said carriage, a stationary shafton said machine frame extending over and across said conveyor, a set of cutting tools on said shaft, means for intermittently moving said conveyor, means for causing the tools on said travelling carriage to operate on a glass sheet while said sheet is stationary, means for causing the tools on said stationary shaft to operate on a glass sheet while the sheet is moving thereunder, a lateral abutment for determining the position of a glass sheet on thev conveyor transversely thereof, and means for imparting to said abutment a reciprocating movement laterally towards and away from said conveyor. Y l l 3. Ina machine for cutting glass the com-bina- Von said frame, said conveyor heine of suneient length to carry at least two sheets of' glass alignment, a carriage travelling above and across a part oli' said conveyor, a set of-.cutting tools on said carriage, a stationary shafltron said machine frame extending over and across` Said: QQIWy-OIT, a set of cutting tools on said shaft, means for intermittently moving said conveyor, means for causing the tools on said travelling carriage to operate on a glass sheet while said sheet isl stationary, means for causing the tools on said stationary shaft to .operate on a glass sheet while the sheet is moving thereunder, a stop for de termining the correctposition of a glass, sheet on the conveyor longitudinally thereof, said stopl being normally held in the path of the glass sheets, and means operative when the conveyor starts moving to move said stop out of the path-,or the glass sheets.

4. In a machine for cutting glass thecombination of a'machine frame, an endless conveyor on said'frame, said conveyor being of suincient length to carry at least two sheetsA of glass` in alignment, a carriage travelling above and across a part of said conveyor, a set of cutting tools on said carriage, a stationary shaft on said machine frame extending over and across said conveyor, a set of cutting tools on said shaft, means 'for intermittently moving said conveyor, means for causingthe tools on said travelling carriage to operate on a glass sheet while said sheet is stationary, means for causing the tools on said stationary shaft to operate on a glass sheet While the sheet is moving thereunder, a stop` for determining the correct position` of a glass sheetY on the conveyor longitudinally thereof, a spring normally holding said stop in the path of the glass sheets, and means on said travelling carriage for -moving said stop outI of the path of the glass sheets when said tools on the carriage reach the end of their operation on a glass sheet.

5. In a machine for cutting glass the combination of a machine frame, an endless conveyor on said frame, a carriage mounted for travel above and across said conveyor, a set of cuttingA tools on said carriage, a shaft on said machine frame extending over and across said conveyor, a set of cutting tools on said shaft, means for alternately and interdependently effecting the advance movement of said carriage across said conveyor while the latter is maintained at rest and then effecting the return movement of said carriage while said conveyor is advanced, means for raising said tools on the carriage from a glass sheet on said conveyor at the end of said advance movement of said carriage, means for locking said tools on the `carriage in their raised positions at the end of said advance movement of the carriage, means operative during the end portion of said return movement of theY carriage for conditioning said locking means for release thereof,` means releasing said locking means at the'end of said return movement of said carriage and while said conditioning means are op;-l erative, said conditioning means being further Operative at the beginning of. the. advance nievement of said carriage Afor gradually lowering the released tools on said carriage onto a glass sheet on said conveyor, means for raising the tools on said Shaft away from a glass Sheet on the cenvevor and for releasing said tools on the, Shaft for gravitational movement .onto the glass, sheet, means responsive to the passage of the leading and trailing edges of Successive glass sheets on 8. said conveyor for controlling sai-d raising and re.- leasing means of the tools on said shaft,y and means operative when said tools on the shaft are released from their raised position for gradually lowering the last mentioned tools onto a glass sheet on the moving conveyor.

6, In a machine for cutting glass the combination of a machine frame, an endlessv conveyor on said frame, a carriage mounted for reciprocating travelv above and across said conveyor, a first set of cutting tools on said carriage, a stationary shaft on said machine frame extending over and across said conveyor, a second Set of cutting tools on said shait, means operative to alternately and interdependently effect the movementsv of said carriage and said conveyor so that said carriage is advanced over said conveyorv while the latter is at rest and then the carriage is returned While the conveyor is simultaneously advanced, means operative to raise said rst tools from a glass sheet onV the conveyor during the end portion of thel advance movement of said carriage, locking means operative at the end of the advance movement of the carriage to lock said rst tools in their raised positions, meansl independent-of said raising means operative to effect further raising of said rst tools during the end portion of the return movement of said carriage for condition-Y ing said locking means for release thereof,v means operative to release said locking means at the end. of said return movement of thenarriage, said means effecting further raising of said first tools during the end portion of said return movement also being operative to gradually lower the re-` leased tools onto a glass sheet on said conveyor during theV initial portion ofthe advance move.- ment of said carriage, means for raising said second tools away from a glasssheet on said conveyor andA for releasing said second tools for gravitational movement onto. a-glass sheet on the conveyor, means responsive to the passage ofthe leading and trailing edges of successive glass sheets on said conveyor and controlling said rais- 4ing`and releasing means, and means intercepting Ithe gravitational movement ofthe. released second ytools and operative to gradually lower said released second tools onto a glass sheet on the moving conveyor. i

7. In a machine for cutting glass, the combination according to claim 5, wherein said tools on the shaft are rockably mounted on the latter; and wherein said means for raising and releasing said tools on the shaft includes av yokek rockable on said shaft and engageable below said tools on the latter, an electro-magnet mounted` on said; frame and, when energized, actingon said yoke to swing the latter in the direction raising-said tools Y engaged by said yoke, and said means responsive to the passage of the leading and trailing edges of the glass sheets includes a normally closed switch, an elect-ric circuit having said switch interposed thereinV for normally energizing said electro-magnet, and a switch actuatorextending into the path of glass sheets on said conveyor and operatively associated with said switch to open the latter upon contact with the leading edge .of a glass sheet and to maintain said switch in its open condition until the, trailing edge of the glass lsheet has passed from under said switch actuator.

8. In a machine for cutting glass, the combination according to claim 5 further including, means arranged at a side of said conveyor operative to transversely position the successive. glass sheets onvthe latter, and means arranged above said conveyor operative to determine. the longitudinal position of successive glass sheets on the conveyor.

9. In a machine for cutting glass, the combination as serl forth in claim 5; wherein said conveyor includes sprockets rotatably carried by said frame, laterally spaced endless chains `meshing with said sprockets and trained therearound, slats extending between said chains and secured thereto, longitudinal guides on said frame, and grooved bearing plates on said slats slldably engaging said guides.

10. In a machine for cutting glass, the combination as set forth in claim 5; including adjustable means mounting said shaft on said machine frame for adjustment toward and away from the path of travel of said carriage by distances which are substantially equal to multiples of the lengths of the glass sheets on said conveyor.

ll. In a machine for cutting glass, the combination as set forth in claim 5; wherein said means for alternately and interdependently effecting the advance and return movement of said carriage and the advance of said conveyor includes means for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said carriage at the end of said advance movement thereof, means operative to start the movement of said conveyor, an abutment moving with said carriage, and means actuated by said abutment to render said starting means operative when said carriage reaches the end of the advance movement thereof.

GEORGES HENRY. EDGARD BRICHARD. MARC DELACUVEIJJERIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 468,549 Murray Feb. 9, 1892 492,007 Gould et al Feb. 21, 1893 1,031,501 Wooster July 2, 1912 1,259,687 Waterloo Mar. 19, 1918 1,315,526 Neal Sept, 9, 1919 1,681,863 Lahr et al Aug. 21, 1928 1,702,522 Owen Feb. '19, 1929 1,855,078 Williamson Apr. 19, 1932 1,876,612 Chiotti Sept. 13, 1932 1,970,919 Rosin Aug. 21, 1934 1,970,930 Brasseur et al Aug. 21, 1934 2,084,576 Drake et al June 22, 1937 2,158,900 Goffaux May 16, 1939 2,265,028 De Croce Dec. 2, 1941 2,370,932 Bolling Mar. 6, 1945

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