U.S. patent application number 14/109197 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for glass-plate working method and glass-plate working apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to BANDO KIKO CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is BANDO KIKO CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kazuaki BANDO.
Application Number | 20140106648 14/109197 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41706965 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140106648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BANDO; Kazuaki |
April 17, 2014 |
GLASS-PLATE WORKING METHOD AND GLASS-PLATE WORKING APPARATUS
Abstract
A glass-plate working apparatus includes a glass-plate
supporting portion 20a of a feed conveyor 7, a glass-plate
supporting portion 20b of a cutting section 2, a glass-plate
supporting portion 20c of a bend-breaking section 4, a glass-plate
supporting portion 20d of a grinding section 3, and a glass-plate
supporting portion 20e of a discharge conveyor 8; a cutting head 9,
a bend-breaking device 66, and a grinding head 10 for processing
glass plates 5 which are respectively supported by the supporting
portions 20b, 20c, and 20d; and a transporting device 89 for
transporting the glass plate 5 on the supporting portion 20a onto
the supporting portion 20b, the glass plate 5 on the supporting
portion 20b onto the supporting portion 20c, the glass plate 5 on
the supporting portion 20c onto the supporting portion 20d, and the
glass plate 5 on the supporting portion 20d onto the supporting
portion 20e, respectively. The transporting device 89 is adapted to
repeat reciprocating movement so as to sequentially transfer the
glass plate 5 onto each of the supporting portions 20a, 20b, 20c,
20d, and 20e each time the processing operation by processing means
is completed.
Inventors: |
BANDO; Kazuaki; (Tokushima,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BANDO KIKO CO., LTD. |
TOKUSHIMA-SHI |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
BANDO KIKO CO., LTD.
TOKUSHIMA-SHI
JP
|
Family ID: |
41706965 |
Appl. No.: |
14/109197 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13058397 |
Feb 10, 2011 |
|
|
|
PCT/JP2009/002510 |
Jun 3, 2009 |
|
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14109197 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
451/44 ; 225/96;
414/225.01; 414/806; 451/64; 83/879; 83/880 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 2249/04 20130101;
Y02P 40/57 20151101; B24B 37/345 20130101; Y10T 225/307 20150401;
Y10T 83/0333 20150401; H01L 21/677 20130101; Y10T 225/321 20150401;
Y10T 225/12 20150401; Y10T 83/0341 20150401; B26F 3/00 20130101;
C03B 33/03 20130101; B65G 49/064 20130101; B65G 49/066
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/44 ; 83/879;
451/64; 83/880; 225/96; 414/225.01; 414/806 |
International
Class: |
B26F 3/00 20060101
B26F003/00; C03B 33/03 20060101 C03B033/03 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 22, 2008 |
JP |
2008-214687 |
Claims
1. A glass-plate working apparatus in which processing positions
equipped with glass-plate supporting portions for supporting glass
plates are arranged at intervals, and which has a transporting
device for transferring the glass plates each from said glass-plate
supporting portion at one processing position to said glass-plate
supporting portion at another processing position, said
transporting device including a moving base which reciprocates
between a position above said glass-plate supporting portion at one
of the processing positions and a position above said glass-plate
supporting portion at another one of the processing positions and
suction pads respectively mounted on said moving base in
correspondence with said glass-plate supporting portion at each of
the processing positions by means of a lifting device, each of the
glass plates being adapted to be transported from one of the
processing positions to another one of the processing positions by
the reciprocating movement of said moving base, the raising or
lowering of said suction pad by said lifting device, and the
suction or releasing of the glass plate by said suction pad,
wherein said lifting device has a rack-and-pinion device consisting
of a meshing combination of a rack and a pinion gear coupled to a
servo motor, and said rack-and-pinion device on a side of a coupler
coupling said servo motor and said pinion gear is mounted on said
moving base while said suction pad is mounted on a side of said
rack, or said rack-and-pinion device on the side of said rack is
mounted on said moving base while said suction pad is mounted on
the side of said coupler coupling said servo motor and said pinion
gear, and wherein each of said suction pads is liftably held by a
slide unit mounted on said moving base, and said lifting device
causes said suction pad to undergo raising or lowering movement
under numerical control by linear movement produced by the meshing
between said rack and said pinion gear which rotates by being
coupled to said servo motor.
2. A glass-plate working method comprising a method of transporting
a glass plate in which reciprocating movement is effected between a
processing position and another processing position for processing
a glass plate, a suction pad is lowered and raised at the one
processing position to suck and lift the glass plate, advance
movement to the other processing position is effected, the suction
pad is lowered at the other processing position to deliver the
glass plate, and the suction pad is raised in a non-carrying state,
returns in the non-carrying state, and is set on standby, at the
one processing position, the suction pad is set on standby at a
height of a slight distance above a glass-plate supporting portion,
at a start of transport the suction pad is lowered through the
slight distance, sucks the glass plate, and is raised again through
the slight distance to lift the glass plate, whereupon movement of
an advance stroke toward the other processing position is started,
and the suction pad is concurrently raised gradually and the
lifting height of the glass plate is set to an intermediate
position of lift, and as a next processing position approaches, the
heightwise position of the suction pad is gradually lowered,
whereupon as a position above the supporting portion at the next
processing position has been reached, the heightwise position of
the suction pad and the lifted glass plate is positioned at a
position of the height of a slight distance from an upper surface
of the supporting portion, at which processing position the suction
pad is lowered through the slight distance of height, releases and
delivers the glass plate to the supporting portion, whereupon the
suction pad is raised again to the height of the slight distance in
the non-carrying state, and a return stroke is simultaneously
started in the non-carrying state, the non-carrying suction pad
being gradually raised at the start of the return stroke, the
suction pad being gradually lowered after passing an intermediate
position and as an original processing position approaches,
whereupon when the suction pad returns to the position above the
supporting portion at the original processing position, the suction
pad is positioned at the position of the height of a slight
distance from the upper surface of the supporting portion, at which
heightwise position the operation is set on standby until the start
of transport of an ensuing glass plate.
3. The glass-plate working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the one processing position is that of a glass-plate feed conveyor,
and the other processing position is that of a glass-plate cutting
section for forming a cut line on a surface of the glass plate.
4. The glass-plate working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the one processing position is that of a glass-plate cutting
section for forming a cut line on a surface of the glass plate, and
the other processing position is that of a bend-breaking section
for bend-breaking the glass plate in accordance with the cut line
formed on the surface of the glass plate.
5. The glass-plate working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the one processing position is that of a cutting and bend-breaking
section for forming a cut line on a surface of the glass plate and
bend-breaking the glass plate in accordance with the cut line, and
the other processing position is that of a grinding section for
grinding a peripheral edge of the glass plate.
6. The glass-plate working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the one processing position is that of a bend-breaking section for
bend-breaking the glass plate in accordance with a cut line formed
on a surface of the glass plate, and the other processing position
is that of a grinding section for grinding a peripheral edge of the
glass plate.
7. The glass-plate working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the one processing position is that of a grinding section for
grinding a peripheral edge of the glass plate, and the other
processing position is that of a discharge conveyor for discharging
a worked glassed plate.
8. The glass-plate working apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the raising and lowering of the suction pad is effected under
numerical control.
9. The glass-plate working method according to claim 2, wherein the
one processing position is that of a glass-plate feed conveyor, and
the other processing position is that of a glass-plate cutting
section for forming a cut line on a surface of the glass plate.
10. The glass-plate working method according to claim 2, wherein
the one processing position is that of a glass-plate cutting
section for forming a cut line on a surface of the glass plate, and
the other processing position is that of a bend-breaking section
for bend-breaking the glass plate in accordance with the cut line
formed on the surface of the glass plate.
11. The glass-plate working method according to claim 2, wherein
the one processing position is that of a cutting and bend-breaking
section for forming a cut line on a surface of the glass plate and
bend-breaking the glass plate in accordance with the cut line, and
the other processing position is that of a grinding section for
grinding a peripheral edge of the glass plate.
12. The glass-plate working method according to claim 2, wherein
the one processing position is that of a bend-breaking section for
bend-breaking the glass plate in accordance with a cut line formed
on a surface of the glass plate, and the other processing position
is that of a grinding section for grinding a peripheral edge of the
glass plate.
13. The glass-plate working method according to claim 2, wherein
the one processing position is that of a grinding section for
grinding a peripheral edge of the glass plate, and the other
processing position is that of a discharge conveyor for discharging
a worked glassed plate.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/058,397, filed on Feb. 10, 2011, which is the U.S. National
Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2009/002510, filed on
Jun. 3, 2009, which designated the U.S. and claims priority to
Japanese Application No. 2008-214687, filed on Aug. 22, 2008, the
entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus
for working glass plates such as glass plates for window glass of
automobiles and glass plates for liquid crystal displays.
[0003] The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for
working glass plates for manufacturing processed glass plates by
subjecting glass plates to cutting process (formation of cut
lines), bend-breaking operation, and peripheral edge grinding
process.
[0004] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus
for working glass plates in which the processing of glass plates is
finished while the glass plates are being sent sequentially to
respective processing positions (e.g., positions of a cutting
process section, a bend-breaking section, a peripheral edge
grinding section, a transporting section, etc.).
[0005] In particular, the present invention concerns a glass-plate
working method and a glass-plate working apparatus in which
improvements are made on a glass-plate transporting method and a
glass-plate transporting apparatus in which glass plates are
sequentially transferred to glass-plate supporting portions at the
respective processing positions. Hereinafter, in the description of
the invention, the processing positions refer to those of a feed
conveyor, a cutting section (a section where cut lines are formed
on the glass surface by a cutter), a bend-breaking section, a
grinding section, and a discharge conveyor. It should be noted that
although the feed conveyor and the discharge conveyor do not
perform the processing of the glass plates, they are assumed as
forming processing positions. Also, as the glass-plate supporting
portions, devices in their entirety on which the glass plates are
placed and which support or hold these glass plates are called as
such, and they refer to the feed conveyor, a cutting table, the top
of the belt conveyor of the bend-breaking section, and a grinding
table.
BACKGROUND ART
[0006] For example, in Patent Document 1, processing positions
equipped with glass-plate supporting portions for supporting glass
plates are arranged at intervals, and a glass-plate transporting
device is provided for transferring the glass plates sequentially
to the glass-plate supporting portions at the respective processing
positions. The transporting device includes a moving base which
reciprocates between positions above the glass-plate supporting
portions at the respective processing positions and suction pads
respectively mounted on this moving base in correspondence with the
glass-plate supporting portion at each processing position by means
of lifting devices each constituted by an air cylinder unit. The
glass plates are adapted to be sequentially transported to the
glass-plate supporting portions at the respective processing
positions by the reciprocating movement of the moving base, the
raising or lowering of the suction pads by the air cylinder units,
and the suction or releasing operation of the glass plates by the
suction pads. In particular, the air cylinder units are adapted to
effect the raising and lowering of the suction pads by the on-off
operation of compressed air, and hence the raising and lowering of
the glass plate.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0007] Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-68768
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the Invention is to Solve
[0008] Incidentally, with the above-described glass-plate working
apparatus, since the suction pads are arranged to be raised and
lowered by the air cylinder units, it is impossible to control the
raised or lowered position of the suction pads and the raising or
lowering speed.
[0009] For this reason, in the delivery of the glass plate at the
supporting base at each processing position, the suction pads must
always be raised or lowered through the entire stroke of the air
cylinder units. For this reason, it takes time to raise or lower
the suction pads in the delivery of the glass plate.
[0010] Furthermore, the transport of the glass plate to a next
processing position upon reception of the glass plate by the
suction pads must be started after waiting for the completion of
raising by the contraction over the entire stroke of the air
cylinder units for lifting the suction pads, so that wasteful time
is required.
[0011] Owing to the above and other reasons, it takes time to
transport the glass plate from one processing position to another,
so that it is impossible to expect speeding up in the manufacture
of worked glass plates.
[0012] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in the
light of the drawbacks of the above-described conventional
glass-plate working apparatus, and its object is to provide a
glass-plate working method and a glass-plate working apparatus
which make it possible to speed up the transport of the glass plate
from one processing position to another and shorten takt time in
the processing operation, thereby further increasing the production
of worked glass plates.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0013] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a glass-plate working apparatus in which processing positions
equipped with glass-plate supporting portions for supporting glass
plates are arranged at intervals, and which has a transporting
device for transferring the glass plates each from the glass-plate
supporting portion at one processing position to the glass-plate
supporting portion at another processing position, the transporting
device including a moving base which reciprocates between a
position above the glass-plate supporting portion at one of the
processing positions and a position above the glass-plate
supporting portion at another one of the processing positions and
suction pads respectively mounted on the moving base in
correspondence with the glass-plate supporting portion at each of
the processing positions by means of a lifting device, each of the
glass plates being adapted to be transported from one of the
processing positions to another one of the processing positions by
the reciprocating movement of the moving base, the raising or
lowering of the suction pad by the lifting device, and the suction
or releasing of the glass plate by the suction pad, wherein the
lifting device has a rack-and-pinion device consisting of a meshing
combination of a rack and a pinion gear coupled to a servo motor,
and the rack-and-pinion device on a side of a coupler coupling the
servo motor and the pinion gear is mounted on the moving base while
the suction pad is mounted on a side of the rack, or the
rack-and-pinion device on the side of the rack is mounted on the
moving base while the suction pad is mounted on the side of the
coupler coupling the servo motor and the pinion gear, and wherein
each of the suction pads is liftably held by a slide unit mounted
on the moving base, and the lifting device causes the suction pad
to undergo raising or lowering movement under numeral control by
linear movement produced by the meshing between the rack and the
pinion gear which rotates by being coupled to the servo motor.
[0014] With the glass-plate working apparatus in accordance with
the present invention described above, the raising and lowering of
the suction pad are effected by the rotation of the pinion gear
coupled to the servo motor, high-speed linear movement through the
meshing between the pinion gear and the rack, and positioning
thereof.
[0015] Namely, since the raising and lowering of the suction pad is
effected by the meshing between the pinion gear and the rack,
response to the raising or lowering movement is fast, and the
raising and lowering speed is fast. Furthermore, since the raising
and lowering are subjected to numerical control, the suction pad
can be raised or lowered speedily and accurately to a necessary
position (heightwise position from a supporting surface line).
[0016] In addition, in the delivery of the glass plate through the
raising and lowering of the suction pad, the heightwise position of
the suction pad can be set (positioned) speedily and accurately to
a necessary minimum heightwise position relative to the glass-plate
supporting portion.
[0017] Accordingly, at the time of the delivery of the glass plate,
it suffices if the suction pad is raised or lowered through a
necessary minimum distance, and the raising or lowering speed is
fast; therefore, the delivery time of the glass plate can be
shortened substantially. In addition, since the raising/lowering
distance of the suction pad can be reduced, and the raising and
lowering response is fast and the speed is fast, it is possible to
shorten the time period involved until the suction pad reaches a
next processing position, is lowered, delivers the glass plate, and
is raised again and until the raising is completed. For this
reason, the time period until the start of return to the original
position of the suction pad is shortened. Furthermore, the time
period until the start of processing of the delivered glass plate
can also be reduced, thereby making it possible to shorten the
processing takt time.
[0018] From the advantages thus obtained, overall, it is possible
to shorten the time period from the reception and delivery of the
glass plate until the start of the processing operation from the
delivery of the glass plate, as well as the time period until the
start of return of the suction pad. Therefore, the production takt
time of the glass plates and the production speed can be improved
substantially.
[0019] In addition, since the raising and lowering of the suction
pad is numerically controlled by the servo motor, as this servo
motor for raising and lowering and a transport control motor for
transporting movement are simultaneously controlled, the
glass-plate transport line height can be raised by means of the
suction pad during the transporting movement to thereby attain
prevention of such as a collision or contact with others. Thus, as
a next position for delivery of the glass plate approaches, the
glass plate is gradually lowered, and when the next glass-plate
delivery position has been reached, the suction pad can be
positioned accurately to a minimum heightwise position required for
the delivery of the glass plate.
[0020] During the transporting movement of the glass plate, the
raising and lowering of the suction pad can be used rationally.
[0021] In addition, in accordance with the present invention, there
is provided a glass-plate working method in a method of
transporting a glass plate in which reciprocating movement is
effected between a processing position and another processing
position for processing a glass plate, a suction pad is lowered and
raised at the one processing position to suck and lift the glass
plate, advance movement to the other processing position is
effected, the suction pad is lowered at the other processing
position to deliver the glass plate, and the suction pad is raised
in a non-carrying state, returns in the non-carrying state, and is
set on standby,
[0022] at the one processing position, the suction pad is set on
standby at a height of a necessary minimum distance above a
glass-plate supporting portion, at a start of transport the suction
pad is lowered through the minimum distance, sucks the glass plate,
and is raised again through the necessary minimum distance to lift
the glass plate, whereupon movement of an advance stroke toward the
other processing position is started, and the suction pad is
further raised during the movement of this advance stroke and keep
moving while raising the lifting height of the glass plate. As a
next processing position approaches, the suction pad is lowered,
whereupon as a position above the glass-plate supporting portion at
the next processing position has been reached, the heightwise
position of the suction pad and the lifted glass plate is
positioned at a position of the height of a necessary minimum
distance from an upper surface of the glass-plate supporting
portion, at which processing position the suction pad is lowered
through the minimum distance of height, releases and delivers the
glass plate to the glass-plate supporting portion, whereupon the
suction pad is raised again to the height of the necessary minimum
distance in the non-carrying state, and a return stroke is
simultaneously started in the non-carrying state, the non-carrying
suction pad being gradually raised at the start of the return
stroke, the suction pad being gradually lowered and as an original
processing position approaches, whereupon when the suction pad
returns to the position above the glass-plate supporting portion at
the original processing point, the suction pad is positioned at the
position of the height of a necessary minimum position from the
upper surface of the glass-plate supporting portion, at which
heightwise position the operation is set on standby until the start
of transport of an ensuing glass plate.
[0023] According to the above-described glass-plate working method
in accordance with the present invention, at each of the processing
positions, the suction pad is set on standby at a heightwise
position of a slight and necessary minimum distance from the upper
surface of the glass-plate supporting portion, and the reception of
the glass plate is effected by the lowering and raising by that
necessary minimum distance. For this reason, it is possible to
shorten the time period in the reception and lifting of the glass
plate, the time period from this lifting until the start of
transport to a next position, and the time period from the lowering
of the suction pad until completion of the suction and raising of
the glass plate. Further, the time period until the start of
transport of the received glass plate can also be shortened.
[0024] In addition, the glass plate which has been raised to a line
at the height raised during transport is lowered again as a next
processing position approaches during its transporting movement,
and when that next processing position has been reached, the glass
plate is positioned above the glass-plate supporting portion
(placing portion for glass-plate delivery) again at the heightwise
position of the necessary minimum distance. Next, the suction pad
is lowered through this minimum distance, delivers the glass plate,
and is raised again through the necessary minimum distance,
whereupon return to the original processing position is started. At
the same time, processing movement (processing operation) is
started at the processing position.
[0025] For this reason, as this processing position as well, it is
possible to shorten the time periods from the lowering of the
suction pad until the releasing and delivery onto the glass-plate
supporting portion and the raising of the suction pad and from the
reception of the glass plate until the start of processing
operation.
[0026] Accordingly, the worked glass-plate transporting time is
reduced, and the takt time of the processing operation at the
processing position is speeded up. Therefore, the manufacturing
speed of worked glass plates is substantially enhanced.
Advantages of the Invention
[0027] According to the present invention, it is possible to
provide a glass-plate working method and a glass-plate working
apparatus which make it possible to speed up the transport of the
glass plate from one processing position to another and shorten
takt time in the processing operation, thereby further increasing
the production of worked glass plates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E shown
in FIG. 2;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of portions
shown in FIG. 3;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows along line
A-A shown in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B shown
in FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C shown
in FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D shown
in FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of portions shown in FIG.
2;
[0037] FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a lifting device of a
transporting device;
[0038] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the lifting device of the
transporting device;
[0039] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the lifting device of
the transporting device;
[0040] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line F-F, of
the lifting device shown in FIG. 10;
[0041] FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the lifting device in
a state in which suction pads have been lowered;
[0042] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the lifting device in
the similar state in which the suction pads have been lowered;
and
[0043] FIG. 16 is a diagram explaining the operation of the
transporting device and the lifting device in the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0044] Next, referring to the drawings, a description will be given
of a specific example of the present invention. It should be noted
that the present invention is not limited to such an example.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, in a glass-plate working apparatus
1 in accordance with this embodiment, a cutting section 2 for
forming a cut line on a glass plate is disposed on the right side;
a grinding section 3 for grinding a peripheral edge of the glass
plate is disposed on the left side; a bend-breaking section 4 is
disposed in the center; and a glass-plate transporting section 6
for transporting the glass plate 5 is disposed in the rear.
[0046] Further, a feed conveyor 7 for the glass plate is disposed
on a carrying-in side of the cutting section 2, and a discharge
conveyor 8 is disposed on a carrying-out side of the grinding
section 3.
[0047] The cutting section 2 has a cutting head 9 provided with a
cutter wheel 14 as well as a cutting table 11 for supporting the
glass plate 5. In addition, the grinding section 3 has a grinding
head 10 provided with a grinding wheel 15 as well as a grinding
table 12 for holding the glass plate 5. It should be noted that it
is a plurality of suction cups 13 disposed on this grinding table
12 that directly hold the glass plate 5 on the grinding table
12.
[0048] The aforementioned cutting head 9 and cutting table 11 are
subjected to NC control so as to undergo contour-controlled
movement in an orthogonal plane coordinate system, and the
aforementioned grinding head 10 and the grinding table 12 are also
subjected to NC control so as to undergo contour-controlled
movement in the orthogonal plane coordinate system. In addition,
the contour-controlled movement in the cutting section 2 and the
contour-controlled movement in the grinding section 3 are
identically performed simultaneously in parallel.
[0049] The cutting head 9 of the cutting section 2 and the grinding
head 10 of the grinding section 3 are mounted on a common moving
base 16, and this moving base 16 effects linear motion (hereafter
referred to as the movement) in an X-axis direction.
[0050] Accordingly, the cutting head 9 and hence the cutter wheel
14, as well as the grinding head 10 and hence the grinding wheel
15, share an X axis, and integrally effect the movement in the
X-axis direction.
[0051] Meanwhile, the cutting table 11 which moves in a Y-axis
direction in correspondence with the cutting head 9 and the
grinding table 12 which moves in the Y-axis direction in
correspondence with the grinding head 10 are respectively mounted
independently, but are both controlled in synchronism with each
other.
[0052] A first mount 17 is installed forwardly and upwardly of the
cutting table 11 and the grinding table 12. The first mount 17 is
installed on a pair of gate-shaped frame bases 19 erected at front
and rear ends of a machine base 18.
[0053] Two sets of slide rail devices 21 are provided in parallel
on a front face of this first mount 17 along the X-axis
direction.
[0054] Each of these slide rail devices 21 consists of a rail body
22 installed on the first mount 17 and a plurality of slide blocks
23 which move on this rail body 22, and the moving base 16 is fixed
to these slide blocks 23.
[0055] The aforementioned cutting head 9 and grinding head 10 are
mounted on this moving base 16.
[0056] Accordingly, the cutting head 9 and the grinding head 10 are
integrally moved (linearly moved) in the X-axis direction together
with the moving base 16 by the aforementioned slide rail devices
21.
[0057] The driving of the moving base 16 in the X-axis direction is
effected by a feed screw 24 provided between the two sets of slide
rail bodies 22 and by an X-axis control motor 25 for driving this
feed screw 24. Installed below the respective ones of the
aforementioned cutting head 9 and grinding head 10 are the cutting
table 11 in correspondence with the cutting head 9 and the grinding
table 12 in correspondence with the grinding head 10.
[0058] In addition, the cutting table 11 and the grinding table 12
are moved by being mutually synchronously controlled. The upper
surface of the cutting table 11 is formed so as to flatly support
the glass plate 5.
[0059] The plurality of suction cups 13 are disposed on the upper
surface of the grinding table 12, and the glass plate 5 is fixed
onto these suction cups 13 by suction while maintaining its
flatness.
[0060] The aforementioned cutting table 11 is mounted on a pair of
slide rail devices 26 which are disposed along the Y-axis
direction.
[0061] Each of these slide rail devices 26 has a rail body 27 and a
pair of slide blocks 28 assembled to this rail body 27, and the
aforementioned cutting table 11 is fixed on top of these slide
blocks 28.
[0062] The movement in the Y-axis direction of the cutting table 11
is effected by a feed screw 29 provided along the rail bodies 27
and by a Y-axis control motor 30 connected to the feed screw
29.
[0063] In addition, the grinding table 12 is mounted on a pair of
slide rail devices 31 which are similarly disposed along the Y-axis
direction. Of course, each of these slide rail devices 31 also has
a rail body 32 and a pair of slide blocks 33 assembled to this rail
body 32, and the grinding table 12 is fixed on top of these slide
blocks 33.
[0064] The movement in the Y-axis direction of the grinding table
12 is effected by a feed screw 34 disposed along the rail bodies 32
and by a Y-axis control motor 35 connected to this feed screw
34.
[0065] The Y-axis control motor 30 and the Y-axis control motor 35
which are respectively disposed independently are synchronously
operated by a numerical controller so that the cutting table 11 and
the grinding table 12 are synchronously moved in the Y-axis
direction. On the front face of the moving base 16 which moves in
the X-axis direction, a bearing unit 36 is mounted in
correspondence with the aforementioned cutting table 11, and a
bearing unit 38 is mounted in correspondence with the grinding
table 12.
[0066] The bearing unit 36 has a rotating shaft 37 which is held by
bearings (not shown).
[0067] The bearing unit 38 has a rotating shaft 39 which is held by
bearings.
[0068] The aforementioned rotating shafts 37 and 39 are assembled
such that their rotational axes are in a state of being
perpendicular to the X-Y plane coordinate system, i.e., the upper
surface of the glass plate 5.
[0069] The rotating shafts 37 and 39 rotate about an axis 40 which
is perpendicular to the upper surface of the glass plate 5.
[0070] As for the rotating shafts 37 and 39, their upper end
portions 41 and 42 and lower end portions 43 and 44 are
respectively exposed upwardly and downwardly from the respective
bearing units 36 and 38.
[0071] The cutting head 9 is mounted on the lower end portion 43 of
the rotating shaft 37 in the cutting section 2 by means of a
bracket 45. Further, an angle control motor 46 is coupled to the
upper end portion 41 of this rotating shaft 37 by means of two spur
gears 47.
[0072] On the other hand, the grinding head 10 is mounted on the
lower end portion 44 of the rotating shaft 39 by means of a bracket
48.
[0073] Similarly, an angle control motor 49 is coupled to the upper
end portion 42 of this rotating shaft 39 by means of two spur gears
50. Of course, the aforementioned angle control motors 46 and 49
are respectively held by brackets 51 and 52 erected from the front
face of the moving base 16, and naturally move in the X-axis
direction integrally with the moving base 16.
[0074] In addition, the cutting head 9 mounted at the lower end
portion 43 of the rotating shaft 37 and the grinding head 10
mounted at the lower end portion 44 of the rotating shaft 39 are
also respectively mounted at their lower end portions 43 and 44 by
means of the brackets 45 and 48 to which the respective rotating
shafts 37 and 39 are attached in a laterally gripped state.
[0075] Accordingly, the rotating shafts 37 and 39 cause the cutting
head 9 and the grinding head 10 to undergo angle-controlled
rotation about the axis 40 perpendicular to the surface of the
glass plate 5 by being subjected to the angle-controlled rotation
by the respective angle control motors 46 and 49.
[0076] The cutting head 9 includes a cutter head body 53 having the
cutter wheel 14, a position adjusting means 54 for holding this
cutter head body 53 and adjusting the position of this cutter head
body 53 in two orthogonal directions (X-direction and Y-direction)
within a plane parallel to the surface of the glass plate 5, and an
air cylinder unit 55 which is mounted at an upper portion of the
cutter head body 53, vertically moves the cutter wheel 14 in a
Z-axis direction, and imparts cutting pressure to the cutter wheel
14 at the time of forming a cut line on the glass plate 5.
[0077] The position adjusting means 54 consists of a Y-direction
slide 56 for holding the aforementioned cutter head body 53, an
X-direction slide 57 for holding this Y-direction slide 56 movably
in the Y direction, and a bracket 58 for holding this X-direction
slide 57 movably in the X-direction. Further, an upper portion of
the bracket 58 is suspendedly mounted on the bracket 45 to which
the lower end portion of the aforementioned rotating shaft 37 is
attached in a gripped state.
[0078] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the grinding head 10 includes a
spindle motor 59 and a position adjusting means 60 for adjusting
the position of this spindle motor 59 in two orthogonal directions
(X-direction and Y-direction), respectively, within a plane
parallel to the surface of the glass plate 5. Further, the grinding
wheel 15 is mounted on a rotating shaft 61 of the spindle motor
59.
[0079] The position adjusting means 60 consists of a Y-direction
slide 62 for holding the aforementioned spindle motor 59 and a
bracket 64 for holding this Y-direction slide 62 movably in the
Y-direction. An upper portion of this bracket 64 is suspendedly
mounted on the bracket 48 to which the lower end portion 44 of the
rotating shaft 39 is attached in a gripped state.
[0080] The grinding wheel 15 is so arranged that its peripheral end
face (grinding face) coincides with the axis 40 of the rotating
shaft 39 by the adjustment of the aforementioned position adjusting
means 60.
[0081] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 8, the bend-breaking section
4 includes a horizontal belt conveyor 65 on which is placed the
transported glass plate 5 with the cut line formed thereon, as well
as two bend-breaking devices 66 for bend-breaking the glass plate 5
placed on this belt conveyor 65.
[0082] Each of the bend-breaking devices 66 consists of an end
cutter unit 67, a press unit 68, and a moving means 69 for moving
the end cutter unit 67 and the press unit 68 over the glass plate 5
along the surface of the glass plate 5. The moving means 69
includes a Y-direction moving unit 70 for holding the end cutter
unit 67 and the press unit 68 and for moving under numerical
control the end cutter unit 67 and the press unit 68 in the Y
direction, as well as an X-direction moving unit 71 for moving
numerically this Y-axis moving unit 70 in the X direction. This
X-direction moving unit 71 is mounted on the first mount 17 and a
second mount 103 by means of brackets 73 and 74.
[0083] The belt conveyor 65 includes a conveyor belt 75, a
supporting plate/frame 76 for supporting the conveyor belt 75 from
inside in the form of a flat surface, and a drive unit 77 for
causing the conveyor belt 75 to rotate, and is supported by the
machine base 18 by means of brackets in the supporting plate/frame
76.
[0084] In terms of the operation of the bend-breaking section 4,
first, the glass plate 5 with the cut line formed thereon in the
cutting section 2 is transferred to above and placed on the
conveyor belt 75 by the lifting of the glass plate 5 by a
glass-plate lifting unit 82 corresponding to the cutting section 2
and by the transport of the glass plate by the movement of a moving
base 80. Then, a pair of suction pads 90, which returned to this
bend-breaking section 4, are lowered and press the glass plate 5 to
thereby set the glass plate 5 in a fixed state.
[0085] Then, the end cutter unit 67 of each bend-breaking device 66
is sequentially moved to necessary positions to cut end cutting
lines on the glass plate 5. Next, the press unit 68 is sequentially
moved to necessary positions to effect pressing, thereby
bend-breaking and separating unrequired portions.
[0086] The glass plate 5 whose unrequired portions have been
bend-broken and separated is sucked and lifted up by the suction
pads 90 of the glass-plate lifting unit, and is set on standby in
this state and awaits its conveyance to the next grinding section
3.
[0087] At this time, the belt conveyor 65 is operated to discharge
bend-broken cullet on the conveyor belt 75 to the outside.
[0088] The glass-plate transporting section 6 has a transporting
device 79. This transporting device 79 transports the glass plate 5
on the feed conveyor 7 onto the cutting table 11, the glass plate 5
on the cutting table 11 onto the belt conveyor 65 of the
bend-breaking section 4, the glass plate 5 bend-broken by the
bend-breaking section 4 and being lifted up by the suction pads
onto the suction cups 13 of the grinding table 12, and the glass
plate 5 on the suction cups 13 of the grinding table 12 onto the
discharge conveyor 8.
[0089] The glass plate 5 is sent sequentially from one stage to
another by the repetition of the reciprocating movement.
[0090] It should be noted that the glass plate 5 is placed on a
glass-plate supporting portion 20a on the feed conveyor 7, on a
glass-plate supporting portion 20b on the cutting table 11, on a
glass-plate supporting portion 20c on the belt conveyor 65 of the
bend-breaking section 4, on glass-plate supporting portions 20d on
the suction cups 13 of the grinding table 12, and on a glass-plate
supporting portion 20e on the discharge conveyor 8. In the cutting
section 2 and the grinding section 3, the glass plate 5 is fixedly
supported or held during the processing operation at the
aforementioned glass-plate supporting portions 20b and 20d. The
transporting device 79 has the moving base 80. This moving base 80
is provided in a penetrating manner above the feed conveyor 7,
above the cutting table 11, above the belt conveyor 65 of the
bend-breaking section 4, and above the suction cups 13 of the
grinding table 12, and repeats the reciprocating movement in
parallel with the X-axis direction. The moving base 80 also reaches
above the discharge conveyor owing to this reciprocating movement.
The moving base 80 has glass-plate lifting devices 81, 82, 83, and
84 at positions corresponding to the processing positions. Namely,
the moving base 80 has the respective glass-plate lifting devices
81, 82, 83, and 84 at positions corresponding to the glass-plate
supporting portion 20a on the feed conveyor 7, the glass-plate
supporting portion 20b on the cutting table 11, the glass-plate
supporting portion 20c on the belt conveyor 65 of the bend-breaking
section 4, and the glass-plate supporting portions 20d on the
suction cups 13 of the grinding table 12.
[0091] These glass-plate lifting devices 81, 82, 83, and 84 are
mounted on the lower surface of the aforementioned moving base 8 by
means of brackets 85, 86, 87, and 88, respectively.
[0092] The moving base 80 and the glass-plate lifting devices 81,
82, 83, and 84 effect reciprocation as an integral unit.
[0093] The reciprocating movement of the moving base 80 is effected
under numerical control by a below-described transport control
motor 89. In addition, the aforementioned glass-plate lifting
devices 81, 82, 83, and 84 have the pair of suction pads 90 for
effecting the suction and holding in which a surface of the glass
plate is brought into contact with the pad 90, and release of the
glass plate 5 and lifting units 91, 92, 93, and 94 for raising and
lowering the suction pads 90, respectively.
[0094] Each of the lifting units 91, 92, 93, and 94 has a pair of
slide units 95 arranged on both sides and adapted to respectively
hold the suction pads 90 linearly liftably; a coupler 97 for
coupling two slide shafts 96 of the pair of slide units 95 on both
sides; a rack 98 erected on an upper surface of this coupler 97; a
pinion gear 99 meshing with this rack 98; and a servo motor 100 on
which this pinion gear 99 is mounted to drive this pinion gear 99,
the pair of suction pads 90 being attached to a lower surface of
the coupler 97.
[0095] Each of the slide units 95 on both sides consists of a case
body 101 and the aforementioned slide shaft 96 which slides inside
this case body 101, each of the case bodies 101 being mounted on
the aforementioned bracket.
[0096] In addition, the pinion gear 99 is attached to a shaft 102
of the servo motor 100, and a servo motor body of the servo motor
100 is mounted on the bracket.
[0097] As for the respective lifting units 91, 92, 93, and 94, the
pinion gear 99 is rotated by the servo motor 100 to raise or lower
the rack 98 meshing with this pinion gear 99, thereby allowing the
coupler 97 with this rack 98 mounted thereon and the suction pads
90 attached to this coupler 97 to be raised or lowered.
[0098] Incidentally, as for the meshing assembly of the pinion gear
99 and the rack 98, the pinion gear 99 and the rack 98 move
relative to each other as the pinion gear 99 is driven. As for the
lifting units 91, 92, 93, and 94 in this embodiment, a coupler 108
side coupling the servo motor and the pinion gear is mounted on the
moving base 80 (by means of the bracket 85, 86, 87, or 88, of
course), the rack 98 side is raised or lowered, and the suction
pads 90 are mounted on the rack 98 side which is raised or
lowered.
[0099] However, although an illustration is not given, an
arrangement may be provided such that the rack 98 side is mounted
on the moving base 80 in a fixed manner (by means of the bracket,
of course), the coupler 108 side coupling the servo motor and the
pinion gear is raised or lowered, and the suction pads 90 are
mounted on the coupler 108 side coupling the servo motor and the
pinion gear.
[0100] In addition, the aforementioned moving base 80 is mounted on
a pair of slide units 104 installed on the lower surface of the
second mount 103 in parallel in the X-axis direction.
[0101] The pair of slide units 104 are constituted by a pair of
rail bodies 105 laid in parallel and a pair of slide blocks 106
which are respectively assembled to these rail bodies 105, and the
aforementioned moving base 80 is attached to these slide blocks
106.
[0102] The reciprocating movement of the moving base 80 is driven
by a feed screw 107 installed between the pair of rail bodies 105
and by the transport control motor 89 connected to the feed screw
107.
[0103] The transport control motor 89 reciprocally moves the moving
base 80 under numerical control on the basis of numerical
information from the numerical controller.
[0104] It should be noted that the aforementioned second mount 103
is laid on the pair of frame bases 19 erected at front and rear
ends of the machine base 18 in such a way as to be parallel with
the first mount 17 in the rear of the first mount 17.
[0105] In terms of the operation of the glass-plate transporting
section 6, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 16, when the glass-plate working
apparatus 1 is effecting processing operation at the respective
processing positions, the moving base 80 which reciprocates is on
standby at a return position. At this juncture, the lifting device
81 is on standby above the feed conveyor 7, the lifting device 82
is on standby above the cutting table 11, and the lifting device 84
is on standby above the grinding table 12, while the lifting units
91, 92, and 94 of the respective lifting devices 81, 82, and 84 are
at a standstill at a midway position of lowering, and the
respective suction pads 90 are on standby at a heightwise position
(about 5 mm or thereabouts) which is at a necessary minimum
distance above the upper surface of the glass plate 5 on the
supporting base.
[0106] It should be noted that, at this juncture, the lifting
device 83 corresponding to the belt conveyor 65 of the
bend-breaking section 4 is located above the belt conveyor 65, and
its suction pads 90 are lowered to a lowermost position and keep
pressing the glass plate 5 on the belt conveyor 65. At this time,
the pair of bend-breaking devices 66 are operated to bend-break the
glass plate 5. Upon completion of bend-breaking, the suction pads
90 suck the glass plate 5, lift it up to an uppermost position, and
remain on standby to await integral movement together with the
other suction pads 90.
[0107] Next, when the processing operation at the respective
processing positions is finished, and the cutting table 11 and the
grinding table 12 return to their points of origin, the lifting
devices 81, 82, and 84, excluding the lifting device 83 located at
the bend-breaking section 4, concurrently cause the suction pads 90
to be lowered a minimum distance (a distance of about 5 mm or
thereabouts) by means of the lifting units 91, 92 and 94, and then
to be brought into contact with the glass plates 5, to suck and
lift the glass plates 5 first to the height of the necessary
minimum distance (about 5 mm or thereabouts). Simultaneously with
the completion of the raising to the height of this minimum
distance, the moving base 80 starts its advance stroke, and the
transport of the glass plates 5 at the respective processing
positions to the next processing positions is started. At the same
time, the lifting units 91, 92, and 94 of the lifting devices 81,
82, and 84 advance while gradually raising the height of the glass
plates 5 by means of the suction pads 90.
[0108] Then, after an intermediate position in the advance stroke
has passed, and as the lifting devices 81, 82, and 84 approach the
glass-plate supporting portions 20b at the next processing
positions, the lifting units 91, 92, and 94 of the lifting devices
81, 82, and 84 conversely lower the glass plates 5 gradually. When
the lifting devices 81, 82, and 84 reach above the glass-plate
supporting portions 20b at the next processing positions, and the
moving base 80 stops, the heightwise position of the glass plates 5
is positioned at a heightwise position (about 5 mm or thereabouts)
spaced apart a necessary minimum distance from the upper surfaces
of the supporting bases.
[0109] Next, the respective suction pads 90 are lowered the
remaining minimum distance, cause the glass plates 5 to be brought
into contact with the upper surfaces of the glass-plate supporting
portions, whereupon the glass plates 5 are released from the
suction pads 90 and are transferred onto the glass-plate supporting
portions 20b.
[0110] Next, the glass-plate lifting devices 81, 82, 83, and 84
cause the suction pads 90 to be raised again the necessary minimum
distance (about 5 mm or thereabouts from the upper surfaces of the
glass plates 5 transferred just now) by means of the lifting units
91, 92, 93, and 94. Simultaneously with the completion of the
raising of the respective suction pads 90 (in a brief time period),
the moving base 80 starts its return stroke.
[0111] At the same time, the glass-plate working apparatus 1 starts
the processing operation at the respective processing
positions.
[0112] When the moving base 80 enters the return stroke, the
respective lifting devices 81, 82, 83, and 84 effects its return
movement while gradually raising the height of the suction pads
90.
[0113] After an intermediate position in the return stroke has
passed, and as the lifting devices 81, 82, 83, and 84 approach
their original processing positions, the lifting devices 81, 82,
83, and 84 gradually lower the suction pads 90. When the lifting
devices 81, 82, 83, and 84 have reached above the supporting bases
at the original processing positions, the heightwise position of
the glass plates 5 is positioned again at the heightwise position
spaced apart the minimum distance from the upper surfaces of the
glass-plate supporting portions, and the respective suction pads 90
remain on standby at this heightwise position.
[0114] When the glass-plate supporting portions respectively
supporting the glass plates 5, i.e., the cutting table 11 and the
grinding table 12, return to their points of origin upon completion
of the processing operation at the respective processing positions,
the above-described glass-plate transporting section 6 repeats the
same operation as described above, and sequentially sends the glass
plates 5 to be processed to the respective processing positions.
The worked glass plate 5 which is sequentially sent to the final
discharge conveyor 8 is discharged as a processing finished
article.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS
[0115] 1: glass-plate working apparatus [0116] 2: cutting section
[0117] 3: grinding section [0118] 4: bend-breaking section [0119]
5: glass plate [0120] 6: glass-plate transporting section [0121] 7:
feed conveyor [0122] 8: discharge conveyor
* * * * *