WO2021070579A1

WO2021070579A1 - Method for producing plate glass and production device therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2021070579A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/034941
Authority: WO
Inventors: 力岸田; 拓也塩路
Original assignee: 日本電気硝子株式会社
Priority date: 2019-10-08
Filing date: 2020-09-15
Publication date: 2021-04-15
Also published as: JP2021059476A; CN114302865A; JP7336071B2; KR20220079515A

Abstract

In the present invention, when a scribe line S is formed on the front surface of a boundary section that defines a first region G1 and a second region G2 of plate glass G so as to divide the plate glass G along the scribe line S, a pushing member 5, with a back surface Gy of the first region G1 supported by a support member 3, pushes the second region G2 to the side of the back surface Gy to divide the plate glass G along the scribe line S, with a flat part 5a of the pushing member 5 being in contact with a front surface Gx of the second region G2 while the flat part rotates.

Description

Plate glass manufacturing method and its manufacturing equipment

The present invention relates to an improvement in a plate glass manufacturing technique including a technique for cutting a plate glass along a scribe line.

As is well known, flat glass is used in various fields as represented by glass substrates for displays such as liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, and organic EL displays, and cover glasses for organic EL lighting. When producing this type of flat glass, a step of cutting out a small flat glass from a large flat glass, a step of trimming an end portion along the side of the flat glass, and the like are executed. In these steps, usually, after forming a scribe line on the plate glass, the plate glass is cut along the scribe line.

As a specific example of the method of cutting this type of flat glass, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be mentioned. In the method disclosed in the same document, after forming a scribe wire on the front surface of the plate glass, the back surface of the first region (one side region of the scribe wire) of the plate glass is supported by the back surface support member. Then, in this state, the roller (rolling element) pushes the second region toward the back surface side while rolling along the surface of the second region (the region on the other side of the scribe line) of the flat glass. By the pushing operation by this roller, bending stress is applied in the vicinity of the scribe line, and the flat glass is cut along the scribe line.

JP-A-2017-226549

By the way, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an attempt is made to cut a plate glass using a roller, the following problems occur due to the roller making point contact or line contact with the plate glass.

That is, the flat glass before cutting may be warped. When the roller pushes the flat glass having this warp toward the back surface side, the roller makes point contact or line contact with the portion of the flat glass that overhangs with the warp, so that the pushing force from the roller is the first of the flat glass. It acts locally on two regions. Therefore, the bending stress cannot be applied evenly in the vicinity of the scribe line of the flat glass, and proper cutting along the scribe line is hindered. As a result, chipping (unjustified cracks on the cut end surface) occurs in the cut portion of the flat glass, causing problems such as a large amount of glass powder being scattered.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B of the same document, when the roller pushes the plate glass toward the back surface side, the second region of the plate glass is curved and deformed over the entire surface. In this state, in order to apply sufficient bending stress to the vicinity of the scribe line of the flat glass, the moving distance of the roller (moving distance downward in the example) is lengthened to cause bending deformation with a large curvature over the entire surface. Need to be raised. As a result, the time required for the cutting work may be lengthened, and the mechanism for moving the rollers may be increased in size.

From the above viewpoint, it is an object of the present invention to appropriately cut the flat glass along the scribe line so that the flat glass can be pushed into the back surface side at the time of cutting.

The first aspect of the present invention, which was devised to solve the above problems, forms a scribe line on the surface side of the boundary between the first region and the second region of the plate glass, and the plate glass is formed along the scribe line. In the method for manufacturing a flat glass including a cutting step of cutting the glass, in the cutting step, when the back surface supporting member is in a state of supporting the back surface of the first region, the flat surface portion of the pushing member comes into contact with the surface of the second region. It is characterized in that the flat glass is cut along the scribe line by pushing the second region toward the back surface side while rotating in this state. The above-mentioned plate glass preferably has a plate thickness of 500 μm or less, and more preferably 300 μm or less. Further, it is preferable that the flat glass has flexibility.

According to this method, the flat surface portion of the pushing member is in surface contact with the surface when the surface of the second region of the flat glass is flat, and when the surface has protrusions or recesses, the surface is said to be said. Contact the surface at multiple points. Therefore, when the flat surface portion of the pushing member pushes the second region toward the back surface side while rotating in a state of being in contact with the front surface of the second region of the flat glass, the contact area between the two becomes wider. Therefore, even if the glass plate is warped, the pushing force acting on the second region from the flat surface portion of the pushing member is dispersed, the warp of the plate glass is corrected, and the pushing force is less likely to act locally. .. As a result, bending stress acts evenly in the vicinity of the scribe line, and the flat glass can be cut appropriately. As a result, problems such as chipping at the cut portion of the flat glass and scattering of a large amount of glass powder are avoided. In this case, the warp of the flat glass is particularly effective if the warp is such that the scribe line on the surface of the flat glass and any virtual straight line parallel to the scribe line are curved. Further, according to this method, when the flat surface portion of the pushing member pushes the second region toward the back surface side, the pushing region becomes flat over a wide range, so that the second region is curved and deformed over the entire surface. Instead, the contact portion with the flat surface portion in the second region and the portion from the contact portion to the scribe line become a shape close to a flat shape. As a result, the vicinity of the scribe line in the second region becomes a shape close to the bending shape, that is, a shape curved with a large curvature, and sufficient bending stress acts, so that the pushing member only moves a short distance toward the back side. Then, the cutting of the flat glass can be completed. As a result, the flat glass can be appropriately cut along the scribe line, the time required for the cutting work can be shortened, and the mechanism for moving the pushing member can be made compact.

In this method, it is preferable that the flat surface portion rotates around an axis extending in a direction along the scribe line. Here, the above-mentioned "axis extending in the direction along the scribe line" means an axis extending in the direction along the scribe line formed in a state where the flat glass is not warped (hereinafter, the same applies).

In this way, the flat surface portion of the pushing member can be maintained in contact with the surface of the second region as it is, and the flat surface portion can be rotated appropriately. More specifically, when the axis line, which is the center of rotation of the flat surface portion, does not extend along the scribe line, the contact state between the flat surface portion and the second region is biased, and the surface of the second region is reached. There is a risk of scratches or uneven bending stress acting near the scribe line. However, according to the configuration here, such a defect is appropriately avoided.

In this method, the axis may be translated in the direction in which the flat surface portion pushes the second region toward the back surface side.

By doing so, it is possible to rotate the flat surface portion more appropriately while maintaining the state in which the flat surface portion of the pushing member is in contact with the surface of the second region as it is with a simple configuration.

In this method, the angle of the flat surface portion is changed according to the change in the angle of the contact portion of the second region with the flat surface portion as the flat surface portion pushes the second region toward the back surface side. You may.

In this way, when the flat surface portion of the pushing member pushes the second region toward the back surface side, even if the angle (inclination angle) of the contact portion with the flat surface portion in the second region changes, the flat surface The angle of the portion will follow the changing angle of the second region. As a result, the contact state between the pushing member and the second region can always be maintained in a suitable state.

In the above method, in the cutting step, the flat glass may be suspended and supported so that the scribe line faces in the vertical direction.

By doing so, the above-mentioned action and effect can be remarkably obtained when the flat glass is warped. More specifically, when the flat glass is placed on a surface plate or the like in a flat position and split, the warp of the flat glass becomes small, but when the flat glass is suspended and supported as in the configuration here, the flat glass is suspended and supported. , The warp becomes large. Even in such a case, the warp of the flat glass can be appropriately dealt with as described above, so that the action and effect are exceptional.

In the above method, in the cutting step, the back surface of the second region may be adsorbed and held.

In this way, the warpage of the flat glass can be auxiliaryly reduced by adsorbing and holding the back surface of the second region, so that even bending stress can be applied more reliably in the vicinity of the scribe line. In addition, after cutting, the second region separated from the first region is continuously adsorbed and held, so that the second region is transported to the evacuation position without dropping, and can be smoothly disposed of or collected. It can be carried out.

In the above method, the flat surface portion may be brought into contact with the surface of the portion including the edge portion facing the scribe line in the second region.

By doing so, when the flat glass is cut by using a roller as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to avoid a problem caused by the roller coming into contact with the edge portion. That is, the edge portion (the portion called the ear portion) of the plate glass is thicker than the portion on the central side of the plate glass and has irregularities on the surface. Therefore, when the second region is pushed in with the roller in point contact or line contact with the edge portion, the contact state between the edge portion and the roller may change depending on the pushing position. As a result, rattling may occur between the two, and the cutting may not be performed properly. On the other hand, even if the second region is pushed in with the flat surface portion in contact with the edge portion, the contact state between the flat surface portion and the edge portion is unlikely to fluctuate, so that rattling is less likely to occur between the two. The cutting can be performed well. Further, as a result, even when the dimension in the width direction orthogonal to the scribe line of the second region is narrow, the flat portion can be satisfactorily cut in a state of being in contact with the edge portion.

In the above method, the pushing member is a plate-shaped member having one surface of two surfaces facing each other in the plate thickness direction as the flat surface portion, and the plate-shaped member is along the scribe line. It may be detachably held by a member with rollers having rollers that can rotate around an axis extending in the direction.

In this way, depending on the degree of warpage of the plate glass, it is possible to properly use the pushing of the second region by the plate-shaped member and the pushing of the second region by the roller. More specifically, when the warp of the plate glass may adversely affect the cutting, the plate-shaped member is used to push the second region. On the other hand, when the warp of the plate glass is not a problem, the plate-shaped member is removed from the member with rollers, and the second region is pushed by the rollers. As a result, it is possible to combine the above-mentioned advantages of pushing with the plate-shaped member and the advantages of pushing with the rollers. The advantages of pushing the flat glass to the extent that warpage is not a problem when pushing it with a roller are that the surface of the second region is less likely to be scratched during pushing and the configuration of the mechanism for moving the roller is simplified. Things can be mentioned.

The second aspect of the present invention, which was devised to solve the above problems, is to cut a flat glass having a scribe line formed on the surface side of the boundary between the first region and the second region along the scribe line. In a plate glass manufacturing apparatus provided with a cutting device, the cutting device includes a back surface support member that supports the back surface of the first region and a second region for cutting the plate glass along the scribe line. It is characterized by including a pushing member having a flat surface portion for pushing the second region toward the back surface side while rotating in contact with the front surface.

According to this manufacturing apparatus, the flat glass is properly cut in the same manner as in the case of the above-mentioned manufacturing method, and the occurrence of chipping at the time of cutting and the scattering of a large amount of glass powder are avoided, and the cutting is performed. The required work time can be shortened and the mechanism for moving the pushing member can be made compact.

According to the present invention, the pushing operation of the flat glass to the back surface side at the time of cutting is satisfactorily performed, and the flat glass is properly cut along the scribe line.

It is a perspective view which shows the cutting apparatus included in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged schematic bottom view which looked at the main part of the cutting apparatus included in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention from below. It is an enlarged schematic bottom view which looked at the main part of the cutting apparatus included in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention from below. It is a schematic side view which looked at from the side the cutting apparatus included in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged schematic bottom view which looked at the main part of the cutting apparatus included in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention from below. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the 1st modification of the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the 1st modification of the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the 2nd modification of the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the 3rd modification of the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic bottom view which shows the 4th modification of the cutting process included in the manufacturing method of the flat glass which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the method for manufacturing the flat glass and the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cutting device 1 included in a flat glass manufacturing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the flat glass G has a scribe line S formed on the surface side (the side of the reference numerals Ga and Gx) as a boundary, and one side in the width direction (the side in the arrow A direction) is defined as the first region G1. The other side in the width direction (the side in the arrow B direction) is defined as the second region G2. In this embodiment, the first region G1 is the product part and the second region G2 is the non-product part. However, both the first region G1 and the second region G2 may be product parts. In the illustrated example, the scribe line S does not reach the upper end and the lower end of the flat glass G, but may reach the upper end and the lower end.

The flat glass G is suspended and supported so that the scribe line S faces in the vertical direction. The plate thickness of the plate glass G can be, for example, 200 to 2000 μm. The smaller the plate thickness, the more easily the warp occurs and the larger the warp that occurs, and the effect of correcting the warp of the present invention described later becomes remarkable. Therefore, the plate thickness is preferably 500 μm or less, more preferably 300 μm or less. is there. Further, the flat glass G preferably has flexibility. In this embodiment, the flat glass G is warped. This warp has a shape in which the scribe line S on the surface of the flat glass G and an arbitrary virtual straight line parallel to the scribe line S are curved.

The cutting device 1 cuts the plate glass G along the scribe line S by bending stress. More specifically, the cutting device 1 attracts and holds the gripping mechanism 2 that suspends and supports the plate glass G, the back surface support member 3 that supports the back surface Gb side of the first region G1, and the back surface Gy side of the second region G2. It includes a suction mechanism 4 and a pushing member 5 that pushes the second region G2 toward the back surface Gy side while rotating in the direction of arrow C in a state of being in contact with the front surface Gx of the second region G2. In this embodiment, the pushing member 5 is a plate-shaped member in which one surface of two surfaces facing each other in the plate thickness direction is a flat surface portion 5a in contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2 (FIG. 6). See 2b).

The gripping mechanism 2 moves the flat glass G in the width direction while gripping the upper end portion of the first region G1. The gripping mechanism 2 is slidably held on a rail (not shown) extending above the plate glass G along the width direction. When the step of cutting the plate glass G is performed, the gripping mechanism 2 and the plate glass G are stopped. Further, the gripping mechanism 2 may be arranged at a plurality of positions in the width direction at the upper end portion of the first region G1.

The back surface support member 3 is arranged on the back surface Gb side at the end of the first region G1 on the scribe line S side. The separation distance L1 in the width direction between the back surface support member 3 and the scribe line S is, for example, 10 to 30 mm, preferably 10 to 20 mm (see FIG. 4a). In this embodiment, the back surface support member 3 is a columnar body or a plate-like body (surface plate) having a flat support surface for supporting the back surface Gb of the first region G1 and being elongated in the vertical direction. The shape of the back surface support member 3 may be a round bar or the like. Further, the back surface support member 3 may have a length that protrudes vertically from the upper end Gd and the lower end Ge of the first region G1 but does not reach the upper end Gd and the lower end Ge.

The suction mechanism 4 includes a holding base material 6 that is long in the vertical direction and a plurality of (five in the example) suction pads 7 that are mounted at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the holding base material 6. The holding base material 6 is configured to move by the operation of a driving means (not shown) such as a robot arm. Further, the suction pad 7 is formed of an elastic member such as elastic rubber or resin, and sucks the back surface Gy of the second region G2 by a negative pressure.

The plate-shaped member 5 as the pushing member is arranged on the surface Gx side of the second region G2. The separation distance L2 in the width direction between the plate-shaped member 5 and the scribe line S is, for example, 80 to 160 mm (see FIG. 4a). The separation distance L2 referred to here is the separation distance before pushing the second region G2. In this embodiment, the plate-shaped member 5 is a flat plate elongated in the vertical direction, and protrudes vertically from the upper end Gf and the lower end Gg of the second region G2, but does not reach the upper end Gf and the lower end Gg. It may be length.

On the front side of the plate-shaped member 5, a member 8 with a roller that holds the plate-shaped member 5 detachably is arranged. The roller-attached member 8 includes a roller shaft 9 extending in a direction along the scribe line S, a plurality of (five in the example) rollers 10 arranged at equal intervals in the axial direction of the roller shaft 9, and a roller shaft 9. It is provided with a support 11 for supporting the above. The scribe line S referred to here is a scribe line when the flat glass G has no warp. In this embodiment, the plate-shaped member 5 is connected to the roller shaft 9 by using a binding band 12. The binding band 12 can be wound and unwound across the plate-shaped member 5 and the roller shaft 9, whereby the plate-shaped member 5 can be attached to and detached from the roller-attached member 8. The support 11 is configured to move by the operation of a driving means (not shown) such as a robot arm, whereby the roller-attached member 8 and the plate-shaped member 5 move in synchronization with each other.

2a and 2b are bottom views of the periphery of the plate-shaped member 5 as viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 2a, each roller 10 comes into contact with a surface (which forms a flat surface) facing the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 and presses the plate-shaped member 5. As shown by a chain line in the figure, the plate-shaped member 5 is configured to rotate around the roller shaft 9 while maintaining a state of contact with each roller 10 at the same position. Therefore, the roller shaft 9 (strictly speaking, the axis 9a, which is the center of the roller shaft 9), which is the rotation center of the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5, exists at a position separated from the plate-shaped member 5 on the front side. .. The separation distance L3 (radius of the roller 10) between the axis 9a of the roller shaft 9 and the plate-shaped member 5 is, for example, 10 to 30 mm.

As shown in FIG. 2b, the plate-shaped member 5 is configured to maintain contact with the roller 10 and move straight in the D direction toward the back side. This D direction is a direction orthogonal to the surface Gx of the second region G2. The surface Gx of the second region G2 referred to here is the surface Gx of the second region G2 before the folding step when there is no warp. As shown by the chain line in the figure, when the roller 10 moves straight in the D direction, the angle of the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 changes according to the angle change of the second region G2. Here, based on the movement path Z of the roller shaft 9 (axis line 9a), the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 moves relative to the side approaching the scribe line S by a distance L6 as the angle changes. Therefore, the contact position between the flat surface portion 5a and the second region G2 also moves relative to the movement path Z of the roller shaft 9 toward the side approaching the scribe line S by a distance L6. In this case, if the roller 10 is in direct contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2 as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the contact position a between the roller 10 and the second region G2 is from the above distance L6. Also moves relative to the side closer to the scribe line S by a short distance L7.

The flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is made of a material that does not easily scratch the surface Gx of the second region G2. Therefore, the flat surface portion 5a is preferably formed of a resin or the like. Further, the plate-shaped member 5 preferably has appropriate flexibility. More specifically, it is preferable that the plate-shaped member 5 has rigidity equal to or higher than that of the plate glass G and has flexibility. From these viewpoints, the plate-shaped member 5 is preferably a porous resin plate or a foamed resin plate typified by plastic corrugated cardboard or Palonia.

Next, a method for manufacturing flat glass using the manufacturing equipment configured as described above will be described.

First, in the process on the upstream side of the position shown in FIG. 1, a scribe line S is formed on the surface Gx of the plate glass G by pressing with a wheel cutter, irradiating a laser, or the like with the plate glass G suspended and supported by the gripping mechanism 2. To do. Next, while the flat glass G on which the scribe wire S is formed is suspended and supported by the gripping mechanism 2, the flat glass G is conveyed in the width direction and stopped. When the plate glass G is stopped, as shown in FIG. 1, the back surface support member 3 moves toward the front side and comes into contact with the back surface Gy of the first region G1 of the plate glass G. Further, as the roller-attached member 8 moves toward the back side, the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 comes into contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2. Further, as the holding base material 6 of the suction mechanism 4 moves toward the front side, the suction pad 7 sucks the back surface Gy of the second region G2.

Then, the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 maintains a state of surface contact with the front surface Gx of the second region G2, and pushes the second region G2 toward the back surface Gy side. At this stage, the periphery of the surface contact portion Gw between the second region G2 and the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is warped in the side view shown in FIG. 3a and the bottom view (aspect drawn by a solid line) shown in FIG. 3b. It becomes a flat shape with almost no. In this case, if the roller 10 is brought into direct contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2 as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 3b, the roller 10 is warped in the flat glass G. By making point contact or line contact with the overhanging portion, the vicinity of the contact portion b with the roller 10 in the second region G2 is locally largely dented. Then, this local depression causes an unreasonable deformation in a wide range of the second region G2. Therefore, when the flat glass G is cut, it is difficult for an even bending stress to be generated in the vicinity of the scribe line S. On the other hand, if the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is in surface contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2, the periphery of the surface contact portion Gw between the second region G2 and the flat surface portion 5a becomes a flat shape. Therefore, it does not cause an unreasonable deformation in a wide range of the second region G2. As a result, when the flat glass G is cut, the bending stress acts evenly in the vicinity of the scribe line S as compared with the case disclosed in Patent Document 1, and chipping and scattering of a large amount of glass powder are less likely to occur. .. Since the back surface Gy of the second region G2 is attracted and held by the suction pad 7, the effect of further reducing the warp of the flat glass G can be obtained. However, since the suction pad 7 has a property of being easily deformed such as expanding and contracting, the warp of the plate glass G cannot be sufficiently reduced only by the suction pad 7, and it plays an auxiliary role in reducing the warp. Fulfill.

FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c exemplify in chronological order the process of pushing the second region G2 toward the back surface Gy side while rotating the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 to cut the plate glass G. First, as shown in FIG. 4a, the member 8 with a roller is moved to bring the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 into surface contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2. At this time, the roller 10 is in contact with the plate-shaped member 5, and neither the plate-shaped member 5 nor the holding base material 6 is tilted (parallel to the surface Ga of the first region G1). Hereinafter, this state is referred to as an initial state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4b, the roller 10 and the roller shaft 9 move linearly (translate) in the D direction, so that the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 comes into surface contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2. It rotates around the roller shaft 9 (axis line 9a) while maintaining this state. As a result, the flat glass G bends starting from the back surface support member 3. At this time, the angle of the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 changes according to the angle change of the surface Gx of the second region G2. In this process, the portion of the plate-shaped member 5 in the second region G2 from the surface contact portion Gw with the flat surface portion 5a to the scribe line S becomes a nearly flat shape, so that the scribe line in the second region G2 The vicinity of S has a shape close to bending, that is, a curved shape with a large curvature. Here, the curved line W shown by the chain line in the figure shows that the surface Gx of the second region G2 is in direct contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2 as disclosed in Patent Document 1. It depicts the shape when bent. The curved line W is curved in the vicinity of the scribe line S in the second region G2 with a small curvature. Therefore, the bending stress acting on the vicinity of the scribe line S in the second region G2 is larger when the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is in surface contact than when the roller 10 is in direct contact. Further, in this process, the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 slides on the surface Gx of the second region G2, and the relative position with respect to the second region G2 moves to the side away from the scribe line S. On the other hand, the relative position of the suction pad 7 with respect to the second region G2 does not change.

After that, the roller 10 and the roller shaft 9 further move straight in the D direction, the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 further pushes the second region G2, and the bending stress acting in the vicinity of the scribe line S is sufficiently large. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4c, the flat glass G is cut along the scribe line S. In this case, as already described with reference to FIG. 4b, when the second region G2 is bent, the portion from the surface contact portion Gw of the second region G2 to the scribe line S becomes a nearly flat shape. Therefore, the flat glass G can be cut even if the distance for moving the roller 10 in the D direction is short. As a result, the time required for cutting the flat glass G is shortened, the work efficiency is improved, and the mechanism for moving the roller-attached member 8 can be made compact. After the second region G2 is separated from the first region G1 by cutting the flat glass G, the second region G2 does not fall and is maintained in a state of being sucked and held by the suction pad 7. Then, the second region G2 is transported to a retracted position where the first region G1 is not affected, and then the suction by the suction pad 7 is released and the second region G2 is dropped and collected.

In the plate glass manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method according to the present invention, instead of the above-exemplified configuration, as shown in FIG. 5a, the end where the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 faces the scribe line S of the second region G2. It may come into contact with the surface Gx of the portion including the edge portion Gz. More specifically, the edge portion Gz (the portion called the ear portion) of the second region G2 is thicker than the other portions of the second region G2 and has irregularities in the vertical direction (depth direction in the figure). It is formed. Therefore, when the roller is brought into contact with the edge portion Gz of the second region G2 or the surface Gx in the vicinity thereof as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the roller and the end are in the process of moving straight in the D direction. There is a possibility that rattling or the like may occur between the two due to unstable contact with the edge portion Gz. On the other hand, when the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is in contact with the portion including the edge portion Gz, even if the plate-shaped member 5 is moved straight in the D direction, the plate-shaped member 5 Since the contact state between the flat surface portion 5a and the edge portion Gz is stable, rattling or the like is less likely to occur between the two. Further, the flat glass G shown in FIG. 5a has a shorter dimension in the width direction of the second region G2. For such a narrow width of the second region G2, the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is brought into contact with the surface of the edge portion Gz, and in the illustrated example, the flat portion 5a is made to protrude from the edge portion Gz. So, it is possible to deal with it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5b, if the plate-shaped member 5 is made flexible, the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is formed without a gap or slightly from the edge portion Gz of the second region G2 to the vicinity thereof. Can be brought into surface contact with a gap in the surface. More specifically, if the rigidity of the plate-shaped member 5 is higher than the rigidity of the plate glass G and the plate-shaped member 5 has flexibility, the plate-shaped member 5 is the second region G2 as shown in the figure. Is deformed, and then the plate-shaped member 5 itself is also deformed.

Further, the flat glass manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method according to the present invention may be changed in configuration as shown below when the flat glass having a smaller warp or no warp than the flat glass G according to the above description is cut. it can. That is, first, the binding band 12 of the member 8 with a roller is removed, and the plate-shaped member 5 is removed. After that, as shown in FIG. 6, the roller 10 is rotatably brought into contact with the front surface Gx of the second region G2, and the back surface Gy of the second region G2 is sucked and held by the suction pad 7. This state is the initial state. Then, by moving the roller 10 straight in the D direction from this initial state, the second region G2 is bent as shown in FIG. 4b described above. In this process, the roller 10 rolls the surface Gx of the second region G2 due to the friction generated between the roller 10 and the second region G2, and the relative position of the roller 10 with respect to the second region G2 is changed from the scribe line S. Move in the direction of separation. Then, when the bending of the second region G2 becomes large and the bending stress acting on the scribe line S becomes sufficiently large, the flat glass G is cut as shown in FIG. 4c described above.

Further, the flat glass manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method according to the present invention can be applied not only to the case where the flat glass G is cut at one place but also when the flat glass G is cut at two places as shown below. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the central region in the width direction of the flat glass G is set as the first region G1, scribe lines S are formed on both sides thereof, and the outer regions in the width direction of each scribe line S are the second regions. Let it be G2. Then, the roller-attached member 8 is arranged on the front surface Gx side of each second region G2, and the suction mechanism 4 is arranged on the back surface Gy side of each second region G2. Further, the back surface support members 3 are arranged on the back surface Gb side at both ends in the width direction of the first region G1. In this case, based on each roller-attached member 8, the center side in the width direction is the arrow A direction side in FIG. 1, and both outer sides in the width direction are the arrow B direction sides in FIG. If these are preconditions, substantially the same action as the already described action is performed on both sides of the flat glass G in the width direction, and substantially the same effect as the already described effect can be obtained.

Further, in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method according to the present invention, the following configuration can be adopted in order to rotatably support the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a shaft 14 serving as a rotation center of the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is inserted into the bracket 13 fixed to the front side of the plate-shaped member 5, and the shaft 14 is connected to the support 15. It is supported by a bracket 16 fixed to the back side. As a result, the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 can rotate around the shaft 14 (axis line 14a). The support 15 moves in the D direction orthogonal to the surface Gx of the second region G2 in the initial state by the operation of a driving means such as a robot arm. In addition to this, another mechanism may be adopted in which the flat surface portion 5a of the plate-shaped member 5 is rotatable around the shaft supported by the support body 15.

In the above embodiment, the roller shaft 9 (axis 14) is configured to move straight in the D direction orthogonal to the surface Gx of the second region G2 in the initial state, but instead of this, the D direction is used. It may be moved straight in an oblique direction forming an angle with. Further, the roller shaft 9 (shaft 14) may be moved along a curved trajectory such as a circular orbit centered on the vicinity of the back surface support member 3 or the vicinity of the scribe line S or an orbit similar thereto. Further, the roller shaft 9 (shaft 14) and the holding base material 6 may be moved along the same curved track (for example, the above-mentioned curved track).

Further, in the above embodiment, the warp of the plate glass G has a shape in which the scribe line S on the surface of the plate glass G and an arbitrary virtual straight line parallel to the scribe line S are curved, but the shape is different from this. It may be warped.

Further, in the above embodiment, the flat glass G is suspended and supported in a vertical posture, but the flat glass G may be laid flat in a horizontal posture (preferably a horizontal posture). In this case, the lower surface of the plate glass G is supported by the back surface support member 3, and the upper surface of the second region G2 of the plate glass G is pushed toward the lower surface side (downward) by the plate-shaped member 5. The upper surface of the plate glass G may be supported by the back surface support member 3, and the lower surface of the second region G2 of the plate glass G may be pushed toward the upper surface side (upward) by the plate-shaped member 5. Further, the posture of the flat glass G may be an inclined posture inclined with respect to a vertical plane or a horizontal plane.

In the plate glass manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method according to the present invention, the widthwise dimension L4 (unit: mm, see FIG. 2a) of the plate-shaped member 5 is a percentage of the widthwise dimension (mm) of the second region G2 of the plate glass G. 30% or more is preferable, 50% or more is more preferable, and 70% or more is most preferable. This makes it possible to promote the formation of a curved shape with a large curvature in the vicinity of the scribe line in the second region. On the other hand, the upper limit of the dimension L4 in the width direction of the plate-shaped member 5 can be, for example, 90%. The longitudinal dimension L5 (unit: mm, see FIG. 3a) of the plate-shaped member 5 is a percentage of the longitudinal dimension (mm) of the plate glass G, for example, 70% or more, and is 100% as shown in FIG. 3a. It may be the above. The thickness T of the plate-shaped member 5 can be, for example, 5 to 15 mm.

Further, in the plate glass manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method according to the present invention, the pushing member that comes into contact with the surface Gx of the second region G2 is not limited to the plate-shaped member 5. For example, the pushing member may be a columnar body having a semicircular, triangular, quadrangular, or other polygonal cross section, or a member having a flat portion even if it has a three-dimensional shape other than these. Further, the pushing member does not have to be a single member long in the vertical direction, and a plurality of pushing members may be arranged along the vertical direction. However, in this case, it is necessary to configure a plurality of pushing members to rotate around the same axis with the same diameter.

1 Flat glass manufacturing equipment (cutting equipment)
3 Back side support member 5 Plate-shaped member (pushing member)
5a Flat surface 7 Adsorption pad 8 Roller member 9 Roller shaft 9a Axis 10 Roller 14 Axis 14a Axis G Plate glass G1 1st region G2 2nd region Ga 1st region front surface Gb 1st region back surface Gx 2nd region surface Gy Back side Gz plate glass edge S scribe line of the second region

Claims

In a method for manufacturing a flat glass, which comprises a cutting step of forming a scribe line on the surface side of a boundary portion between a first region and a second region of the flat glass and cutting the flat glass along the scribe line.
In the cutting step, when the back surface supporting member is in a state of supporting the back surface of the first region, the second region is rotated on the back surface side while the flat surface portion of the pushing member is in contact with the front surface of the second region. A method for producing a flat glass, which comprises cutting the flat glass along the scribe line by pushing the glass into the glass.
The method for manufacturing a flat glass according to claim 1, wherein the flat surface portion rotates around an axis extending in a direction along the scribe line.
The method for manufacturing a flat glass according to claim 2, wherein the axis moves in parallel in a direction in which the flat surface portion pushes the second region toward the back surface side.
A claim characterized in that the angle of the flat surface portion changes in accordance with a change in the angle of the contact portion of the second region with the flat surface portion as the flat surface portion pushes the second region toward the back surface side. Item 3. The method for manufacturing a flat glass according to Item 3.
The method for manufacturing a plate glass according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the cutting step, the plate glass is suspended and supported so that the scribe line faces in the vertical direction.
The method for producing flat glass according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the cutting step, the back surface of the second region is adsorbed and held.
The method for producing a flat glass according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flat surface portion comes into contact with the surface of a portion including an edge portion facing the scribe line in the second region.
The pushing member is a plate-shaped member having one surface of two surfaces facing each other in the plate thickness direction as the flat surface portion, and the plate-shaped member is an axis extending in a direction along the scribe line. The method for manufacturing a flat glass according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the member with a roller having a roller that can rotate around the glass is detachably held.
In a plate glass manufacturing apparatus provided with a cutting device for cutting a plate glass having a scribe line formed on the surface side of the boundary between the first region and the second region along the scribe line.
The cutting device rotates in contact with the front surface of the second region in order to cut the flat glass along the scribe line with the back surface supporting member that supports the back surface of the first region. A flat glass manufacturing apparatus comprising a pushing member having a flat portion for pushing a region toward the back surface side.