JP6706423B2 - Glass breakage detection method, sheet glass manufacturing method, and glass cutting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a glass breakage detection method, a plate glass manufacturing method, and a glass cutting device.

When manufacturing a rectangular plate glass, for example, a rectangular plate glass is cut out by cutting a band-shaped glass formed by the overflow downdraw method along the width direction thereof (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this case, conventionally, breakage of the band glass or the plate glass has been detected by visual observation.

JP, 2002-137930, A

The detection of damage by visual observation may result in omission of detection or erroneous detection, and increases the manufacturing cost. Therefore, a method of automatically recognizing breakage of glass by using a camera and an image processing system can be considered. However, since the glass is a transparent body, it is difficult to recognize breakage or breakage of the glass.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has a technical object to automatically detect breakage of glass in a step of cutting the glass strip in the width direction.

The glass breakage detection method according to the present invention, which was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, can detect the presence or absence of glass in the step of cutting out a sheet glass by cutting a belt-shaped glass moving in the longitudinal direction in the width direction thereof. It is characterized in that a plurality of such sensors are arranged along the width direction and whether or not the glass is broken is determined based on the detection result of the sensor.

According to this configuration, a sensor capable of detecting glass (strip glass and/or plate glass) is used without using a camera or an image processing system. Therefore, even with transparent glass, it is possible to automatically recognize breaks or breaks in the glass, and these breaks can be automatically detected. That is, according to the glass breakage detection method of the present invention, it is possible to automatically detect the glass breakage in the step of cutting the band-shaped glass in the width direction. In addition, the automatic detection can suppress the occurrence of omission of detection and erroneous detection.

Further, since a relatively inexpensive sensor can be used and the sensor can be easily installed in the existing equipment, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost at the time of implementation.

In the above configuration, the position of the sensor is on the downstream side of the cutting position of the band-shaped glass, and the time at which the sensor switches between the detection state and the non-detection state is deviated between a part of the plurality of sensors and the rest of the sensors. In this case, it may be determined that the glass is broken.

With this configuration, it is possible to detect breakage of the plate glass formed by cutting and the band glass after cutting.

In this configuration, when the time when the detection state of some of the plurality of sensors is switched to the non-detection state is earlier than the remaining sensors, if it is determined that the plate glass is damaged, the plate glass cut and formed It is possible to detect damage. Further, in this configuration, if the time when the non-detection state of some of the plurality of sensors is switched to the detection state is later than that of the remaining sensors, and if it is determined that the glass ribbon is damaged, the glass ribbon after cutting is cut. It is possible to detect the damage of.

In the above configuration, the plurality of sensors are arranged at intervals of a first interval provided on the center side in the width direction and a second interval provided on the end side in the width direction and narrower than the first interval. May be.

With this configuration, it is possible to accurately detect breakage of glass that is likely to occur on the end side in the width direction.

In the above structure, the glass ribbon may be formed by the downdraw method, and the glass ribbon may move downward until it is cut. Here, the downdraw method includes an overflow downdraw method, a slot downdraw method, a redraw method, and the like (hereinafter the same).

In this configuration, it may be determined that the glass ribbon is damaged when the time in which the plurality of sensors are in the non-detection state is longer than a predetermined value.

With this configuration, it is possible to detect a very large break (vertical crack described later) of the glass band before cutting.

In the above structure, the band-shaped glass may be cut by breaking, and the sensor may be arranged below the breaking member that serves as a fulcrum for breaking.

With this configuration, it is possible to properly detect breakage of the glass.

In the above configuration, the sensor may be a sensor that uses a laser to detect glass.

With this configuration, even if the sensor is arranged apart from the glass, the glass can be detected, and it is possible to prevent the glass from being damaged.

In the method of manufacturing a rectangular plate glass, the glass breakage detection method having any of the above configurations may be used.

Further, the glass cutting device according to the present invention, which was conceived to solve the above-mentioned problems, is a cutting device that cuts a plate glass by cutting a belt-shaped glass moving in the longitudinal direction in the width direction thereof, and the width A plurality of sensors are provided along the direction and are capable of detecting the presence or absence of glass, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the glass is damaged based on the detection result of the sensor.

With this configuration, it is possible to obtain substantially the same action and effect as the action and effect described in the opening glass breakage detection method.

As described above, according to the present invention, glass breakage can be automatically detected in the step of cutting the glass strip in the width direction.

It is a schematic front view which shows the cutting process in which the glass cutting device which concerns on embodiment of this invention is arrange|positioned. It is a schematic expanded side view which shows the principal part of a cutting process. It is a schematic front view which shows an example of arrangement|positioning of the sensor of the glass cutting device. It is a schematic front view for demonstrating operation|movement of the glass cutting device. It is a schematic front view for demonstrating operation|movement of the glass cutting device. It is a schematic front view for demonstrating operation|movement of the glass cutting device.

Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a cutting step P in which a glass cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is arranged. The cutting step P is one of the steps of manufacturing a rectangular plate glass as a product. In the cutting step P, the band-shaped glass G1 moving in the longitudinal direction (downward) at a substantially constant speed is cut by the cutting machine in the width direction thereof. As a result, the rectangular plate glass G2 that is the basis of the product is cut out (see FIG. 4). In the preceding step of the cutting step P, that is, above the cutting machine, the band-shaped glass G1 is formed by the overflow downdraw method. As a step subsequent to the cutting step P, for example, a step of removing both ends in the width direction of the plate glass G2 by cutting, a step of performing various inspections on the plate glass G2 from which both ends in the width direction are removed, and the like are provided.

In the cutting step P, the band-shaped glass G1 on which the scribe line S is engraved is cut by folding. In the cutting step P, a cutting device including a wheel cutter 1, a support member 2, a split arm 3 and a split member 4 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the wheel cutter 1 engraves the scribe line S on the band-shaped glass G1 along the width direction thereof. At that time, in order to prevent the glass strip G1 from escaping, the glass strip G1 is supported by the support member 2 (for example, a support bar or a support roller). As shown in FIG. 1, the breaking arm 3 has a glass chuck 3a that holds the lower region of the glass ribbon G1 for breaking.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the folding member 4 serves as a fulcrum for folding. The folding member 4 is disposed on the side of the surface of the belt-shaped glass G1 on which the scribe line S is not engraved, and moves between a position separated from the belt-shaped glass G1 and a position of contacting the belt-shaped glass G1. It is possible.

When the band-shaped glass G1 is broken, the band-shaped glass G1 is brought into contact with the breaking member 4 and the band-shaped glass G1 is moved by the operation of the breaking arm 3 as shown by a chain double-dashed line. As a result, the band-shaped glass G1 is broken at the position where the scribe line S is engraved.

The glass cutting device is, in addition to the above-described basic configuration, a sensor 5 capable of detecting the presence or absence of glass (belt glass G1 and/or plate glass G2), and a belt-shaped glass G1 and a plate glass G2 based on the detection result of the sensor 5. A determination unit 6 that determines whether or not there is damage is provided.

The sensor 5 is attached to the lower part of the split member 4. In the present embodiment, the sensor 5 is a laser sensor that uses a laser to detect the glass, and is a reflection type that irradiates the laser with the laser and detects the laser reflected by the glass. As the sensor, any sensor can be adopted as long as it can detect glass, but in consideration of the possibility of damaging the glass by the sensor, a sensor capable of detecting glass in a non-contact manner is preferable. The determination unit 6 is composed of, for example, a personal computer or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of sensors 5 are arranged downstream of the cutting position of the glass ribbon G1 and at positions where the glass ribbon G1 before cutting can be detected along the width direction of the glass ribbon G1. ing. The width dimension of the belt-shaped glass G1 is, for example, 2 m to 3 m, and the sensors 5 are arranged at equal intervals, for example, at a pitch of 100 mm to 200 mm along the width direction of the belt-shaped glass G1.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the arrangement intervals of the plurality of sensors 5 are the first interval d1 provided on the center side in the width direction of the glass strip G1 and the glass strip G1. May be provided on both end sides in the width direction of the second gap d and have a second gap d2 narrower than the first gap d1. By disposing the sensor 5 in this way, it is possible to accurately detect damage that is likely to occur on both ends of the band-shaped glass G1 in the width direction. In order to obtain this effect more reliably, the distance between the sensor 5 positioned on the most widthwise end sides of the band-shaped glass G1 and the widthwise end faces of the band-shaped glass G1 should be smaller than the second distance d2. Is preferred.

The distance d3 (see FIG. 3, unit: mm) from the boundary between the both ends and the center in the width direction to both ends of the band-shaped glass G1 is preferably, for example, 50 to 200 mm.

Next, a glass breakage detection method will be described.

In the state immediately before the folding shown in FIG. 1, all of the plurality of sensors 5 are in a state of detecting glass (hereinafter, referred to as a detection state).

Next, when the folding is completed without the glass being broken, the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. Immediately after the breaking, the cutting device separates the rectangular plate glass G2 formed by the breaking downward from the band glass G1, so that the lower end of the band glass G1 and the upper end of the plate glass G2 after the breaking. A gap is formed between them. Therefore, all of the plurality of sensors 5 are in a state where the glass is not detected at the same time (hereinafter, referred to as a non-detection state).

That is, when the plate glass G2 is not partially damaged, all of the plurality of sensors 5 are simultaneously switched from the detection state to the non-detection state immediately after folding. Therefore, when all of the plurality of sensors 5 simultaneously switch from the detection state to the non-detection state immediately after folding, the determination unit 6 determines that the plate glass G2 is not damaged (normal).

Further, when the belt-shaped glass G1 descends after folding, if the belt-shaped glass G1 is not partially damaged, all of the plurality of sensors 5 simultaneously switch from the non-detection state to the detection state. .. Therefore, when all of the plurality of sensors 5 simultaneously switch from the non-detection state to the detection state after the folding, the determination unit 6 determines that the belt-shaped glass G1 is not damaged (normal).

On the other hand, when the plate glass G2 is damaged due to the breakage, the state shown in FIG. 5 is obtained immediately after the breakage. In the illustrated example, a part of one end side in the width direction of the band-shaped glass G1 is damaged at the upper end of the plate glass G2. When the cutting device pulls the plate glass G2 downward immediately after breaking, some of the sensors 5 arranged at the same position as the broken position of the plate glass G2 in the width direction of the band-shaped glass G1 are The detection state is switched to the non-detection state earlier than the sensor.

That is, when the plate glass G2 is partially damaged, the time at which the detection state of some of the plurality of sensors 5 is switched to the non-detection state immediately after the break is earlier than the remaining sensors 5. Therefore, when the time when the detection state of some of the plurality of sensors 5 is switched to the non-detection state is earlier than that of the rest of the sensors 5, the determination unit 6 causes the glass plate G2 to partially extend in the width direction of the glass strip G1. It is judged that there is damage.

Further, when the band-shaped glass G1 is damaged due to the breakage, the state shown in FIG. 6 is obtained after the breakage. In the illustrated example, a part of the other end side in the width direction of the lower end of the band-shaped glass G1 is damaged. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the plate glass G2 is transported to another place after the break and the cutting device is waiting until the next break. When the belt-shaped glass G1 descends, some sensors 5 arranged at the same position as the broken position of the belt-shaped glass G1 in the width direction of the belt-shaped glass G1 are slower than other sensors 5 and are in the non-detection state. To the detection state.

That is, when the band-shaped glass G1 is partially broken, the time at which a part of the plurality of sensors 5 is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state after folding is later than the remaining sensors 5. Therefore, when the time at which a part of the plurality of sensors 5 is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state is later than the rest of the sensors 5, the determination unit 6 breaks a part of the glass strip G1 in the width direction. It is determined that there is.

When the glass is broken as described above, by counting the number of sensors 5 whose switching time from the detection state to the non-detection state is early or the number of sensors 5 whose switching time from the non-detection state to the detection state is late is counted. The determination unit 6 determines the size of glass breakage. That is, the determination unit 6 determines that the more the counted number is, the more the glass is damaged.

By the way, there is what is called vertical cracking in glass breakage. In this vertical crack, a crack along the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped glass G1 is generated and propagates. As a result, the band-shaped glass G1 fails to be formed in the preceding step of the cutting step P, the band-shaped glass G1 does not exist in the cutting step P (cutting device), and the broken glass drops (hereinafter, this glass breaks Vertical cracks").

In this embodiment, the following two methods are adopted as a method of detecting this vertical crack. The first method focuses on the fact that the descending belt-shaped glass G1 does not exist, and when the time in the non-detection state of all the plurality of sensors 5 is larger than a predetermined value, the determination unit 6 It is determined that the band-shaped glass G1 before cutting has vertical cracks. Here, the predetermined value is set to be longer than the time from when all of the plurality of sensors 5 are simultaneously switched to the non-detection state to when they are simultaneously switched to the detection state when there is no breakage of the glass due to breakage. To be done.

In the second method, when all of the plurality of sensors 5 are in the non-detection state, the time at which all of the plurality of sensors 5 are in the detection state at a normal time is calculated. When the detection state is not reached even after a predetermined time has elapsed from the calculated time, the determination unit 6 determines that the belt-shaped glass G1 before cutting has vertical cracks. Here, the predetermined time is set to be longer than the time during which some of the plurality of sensors 5 are in the detection state or the non-detection state due to damage as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the present embodiment, when the glass breakage is detected, the plate glass G2 is allowed to flow directly to the downstream process or the plate glass G2 is automatically discarded according to the size of the glass breakage.

In particular, when vertical cracks are detected, the wheel cutter 1 and the supporting member 2 of the cutting device, the splitting member 4 to which the sensor 5 is attached, and the like may be damaged by collision of falling glass fragments. .. In order to prevent this, the determination unit 6 automatically retracts the wheel cutter 1, the support member 2, the split member 4, and the like.

The cutting device, the detection method, and the manufacturing method of the present embodiment configured as described above can enjoy the following effects.

Since the sensor 5 capable of detecting glass is used without using a camera or an image processing system, it is possible to automatically recognize breakage of glass such as cracks or chips even with transparent glass. It is possible to detect damage automatically. That is, according to the cutting device, the detection method, and the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically detect the breakage of the band glass G1 and the plate glass G2 in the cutting step P. In addition, the automatic detection can suppress the occurrence of omission of detection and erroneous detection.

Further, as the sensor 5, a relatively inexpensive one can be used, and since the sensor 5 can be easily installed in the existing equipment, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost at the time of implementation.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea thereof. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor 5 is arranged on the side of the surface where the scribe line S is not engraved with respect to the band-shaped glass G1, but it is arranged on the side of the surface where the scribe line S is engraved. You may.

Further, in the above embodiment, the band-shaped glass G1 was cut by folding, but it is sufficient that the band-shaped glass G1 can be cut, and for example, laser cutting or laser fusing may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the overflow downdraw method, which is a kind of downdraw method, is used to form the belt-shaped glass G1, but any method capable of forming the belt-shaped glass G1 may be used, for example, the float method. Etc. may be used.

4 Folding member 5 Sensor G1 Strip glass G2 Plate glass P Cutting process d1 1st space|interval d2 2nd space|interval

Claims (11)

In the process of cutting the plate glass by cutting the strip glass that moves in the longitudinal direction in the width direction,
A plurality of sensors capable of detecting the presence or absence of glass are arranged along the width direction,
A method for detecting glass breakage, which comprises determining whether or not there is glass breakage based on a detection result of a sensor. The position of the sensor is on the downstream side of the cutting position of the glass ribbon,
The glass according to claim 1, wherein when the time at which the sensor switches between the detection state and the non-detection state deviates between a part of the plurality of sensors and the remaining sensor, it is determined that the glass is broken. Glass breakage detection method. The glass breakage according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the plate glass is broken when the time when the detection state of some of the plurality of sensors is switched to the non-detection state is earlier than that of the remaining sensors. Detection method. 4. The belt glass is determined to be damaged when the time at which a part of the plurality of sensors is switched from the non-detection state to the detection state is later than the rest of the sensors, according to claim 2 or 3. Glass breakage detection method. An arrangement interval of the plurality of sensors includes a first interval provided on the center side in the width direction and a second interval provided on the end side in the width direction and narrower than the first interval. Item 5. A glass breakage detection method according to any one of Items 1 to 4. The glass breakage detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the glass ribbon is formed by a downdraw method, and the glass ribbon moves downward until it is cut. The glass breakage detection method according to claim 6, wherein the glass breakage is determined to be broken when the time in which the plurality of sensors are in the non-detection state is longer than a predetermined value. The band-shaped glass is cut by breaking,
The glass breakage detecting method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a sensor is provided below the splitting member which is a fulcrum of the splitting. 9. The glass breakage detection method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a sensor that uses a laser to detect the glass. A method for manufacturing plate glass, which comprises using the glass breakage detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 9. A cutting device for cutting a plate glass by cutting a belt-shaped glass moving in the longitudinal direction in its width direction,
A plurality of sensors arranged along the width direction and capable of detecting the presence or absence of glass,
A glass cutting device, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the glass is broken based on a detection result of the sensor.

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