Fire polishing system and apparatus for plate glass

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fire polishing system and apparatus for plate glass. The fire polishing system for plate glass according to the present invention comprises a loading station for loading plate glass; a loading load lock station arranged to receive plate glass from the loading station and maintaining a vacuum atmosphere; a preheat station arranged to receive plate glass from the loading load lock station and preheat plate glass; a fire polishing station arranged to receive plate glass from the preheat station and fire polish the edge of plate glass by swirling a flame along the circumference of plate glass; an annealing station arranged to receive plate glass from the fire polishing station and slow-cool plate glass; an unloading load lock station arranged to receive plate glass from the annealing station and maintaining a vacuum atmosphere; and an unloading station arranged to receive plate glass from the unloading load lock station and unload it. According to the present invention, since the flame emitting device rotates around the perimeter of the glass plate and emits flames to the edges of the glass plate, fire polishing can be efficiently performed regardless of the size of the glass plate, so a flexible production system can be easily implemented.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to fire polishing technology, and more specifically, to a fire polishing system and apparatus for polishing the edge of a plate glass by means of a flame. Background Technology

[0002] Plate glass is used to manufacture touch screens for mobile devices, flat displays, curved or bent glass such as automotive windshields, and curved facades for buildings. Plate glass is manufactured through a forming or molding process, in which molten glass melted in a glass melting furnace is formed into a flat plate, and a cutting process, in which the plate is cut to meet primary specifications.

[0003] Generally, plate glass cutting methods include scribing, which creates a weak point in the glass, and breaking that weak point by applying physical or thermal shock. Additionally, water jet cutting, which cuts plate glass by spraying high-pressure water, is a well-known method. Since plate glass is a brittle material, it is prone to fine defects or cracks occurring on the processed cross-section. Therefore, to remove cracks and sharp edges from the cut surface, face milling and beveling are performed through grinding and polishing. Fine glass particles are generated during the grinding and polishing of plate glass. To prevent glass particles from remaining on the surface of the plate glass, washing and drying processes are required, which increases production costs. Furthermore, impact from tools applied to the plate glass during grinding and polishing can cause secondary cracks to occur.

[0004] Meanwhile, laser cutting is a method to prevent cracks occurring at the cut edges of plate glass. However, because the laser cutting machines used for this purpose are expensive, they require significant initial investment and maintenance costs, and skilled operators are required to operate them. Laser cutting requires a large amount of energy as it cuts plate glass by irradiating it with a laser beam. Additionally, a ventilation system is necessary to remove toxic gases generated during laser cutting.

[0005] Regarding fire polishing technology for glass plates, Korean Registered Patents No. 10-1265499, No. 10-1309771, and No. 10-1402097, titled "Method and apparatus for removing cutting edge crack of glass plate," remove cracks by locally melting the cut edge of glass plates using the flame of a burner. The burner is configured to emit flames through a plurality of flame emission holes formed in the plate along the edge of the glass plates. The contents disclosed in the above patent documents are incorporated herein by reference. The problem to be solved

[0006] The fire polishing technology for plate glass described above has a problem in that it is insufficient for processing large-area plate glass because it polishes the edges of the plate glass by heating them with flames emitted through flame radiating holes. In particular, since the flame radiating holes are formed along the shape of the large-area plate glass, the size of the burner must also be manufactured to be large to match the size of the plate glass, which causes an increase in the equipment cost of the burner. In addition, there is a need for the development of a system that can efficiently carry out a series of processes such as preheating, softening, fire polishing, and slow cooling of large-area plate glass.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve various problems of the fire polishing technology for plate glass as described above. The objective of the present invention is to provide a new fire polishing system for plate glass that can efficiently carry out a series of processes, including fire polishing, which removes fine defects and cracks by melting the edge of the plate glass with the flame of a flame-emitting device, through automation.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fire polishing system for glass plates that can easily implement a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) because the flame emitting device rotates around the perimeter of the glass plates and emits flames to the edges of the glass plates, thereby enabling efficient fire polishing regardless of the size of the glass plates. means of solving the problem

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a fire polishing system for plate glass is provided. The fire polishing system for plate glass according to the present invention comprises: a loading station for loading plate glass; a loading load lock station arranged to receive plate glass from the loading station and maintaining a vacuum atmosphere; a preheat station arranged to receive plate glass from the loading load lock station and preheat plate glass; a fire polishing station arranged to receive plate glass from the preheat station and fire polishing the edge of plate glass by swirling a flame along the perimeter of plate glass; an annealing station arranged to receive plate glass from the fire polishing station and slow-cool plate glass; an unloading load lock station arranged to receive plate glass from the annealing station and maintaining a vacuum atmosphere; and an unloading station arranged to receive plate glass from the unloading load lock station and unload it.

[0010] A fire polishing device for glass plates according to another aspect of the present invention comprises: a frame; a chamber casing mounted on the upper part of the frame and having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber formed therein to transport glass plates; a conveyor mounted on the lower part of the chamber to transport glass plates; a heating device for heating glass plates placed inside the chamber; a pair of flame radiating devices for fire polishing the edges of glass plates by radiating flames along the perimeter of the glass plates; and a multi-axis robot for rotating flames along the perimeter of the glass plates. Effects of the invention

[0011] The fire polishing system and device for plate glass according to the present invention have the effect of efficiently carrying out a series of processes, including fire polishing, which involves melting the edge of the plate glass by the flame of a flame-emitting device to precisely remove fine defects and cracks, through automation. In addition, since the flame-emitting device rotates around the perimeter of the plate glass and emits a flame to the edge of the plate glass, fire polishing can be efficiently carried out regardless of the size of the plate glass, thereby having the effect of easily implementing a flexible production system. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a fire polishing system for plate glass according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view exemplarily showing a plate glass being fire-polished by a fire-polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view exemplarily showing a plate glass being fire-polished by a fire-polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a loading device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a loading device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a loading load lock device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the left. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a loading load lock device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the right. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the outer casing separated from the loading load lock device of the fire polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a loading load lock device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the preheating furnace of the fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the left. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the preheating furnace of the fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the right. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing one side separated from the preheating furnace of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fire polishing device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the left. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a fire polishing device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the right. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a multi-axis robot in a fire polishing device according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a chamber casing and a multi-axis robot in a fire polishing device according to the present invention. FIG. 17 is a front view showing a chamber casing, a heating device, a flame emitting device, and a multi-axis robot in a fire polishing device according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a heating device, a multi-axis robot, and a stopping device robot in a fire polishing device according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a front view showing a heating device, a multi-axis robot, and a stopping device in a fire polishing device according to the present invention. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the heating device and the flame emitting device in a fire polishing device according to the present invention, viewed from below. FIG. 21 is a front view showing a heating device, a flame emitting device, a multi-axis robot, and a stopping device in a fire polishing device according to the present invention. FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the slow cooling furnace of the fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the right. FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing one side separated from the slow cooling furnace of FIG. 22. FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an unloading load lock device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention, viewed from the right. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing an unloading load lock device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing an unloading device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention. FIG. 27 is a front view showing an unloading device of a fire polishing system according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0013] Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In describing the present invention, the size or shape of components depicted in the drawings may be exaggerated or simplified for clarity and convenience of explanation. Furthermore, terms specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present invention may vary according to the intent or convention of the user or operator. These terms should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention based on the content throughout this specification.

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a fire polishing apparatus for plate glass according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0015] First, referring to FIG. 1, the fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention has an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction horizontally orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction perpendicularly orthogonal to the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention has a loading station (S1), a loading load-lock station (S2), a preheat station (S3), a fire polishing station (S4), an annealing station (S5), an unloading load-lock station (S6), and an unloading station (S7) arranged continuously along the X-axis direction.

[0016] The loading load lock station (S2) is positioned in a continuous manner with the loading station (S1) and protects the vacuum atmosphere from being exposed to the atmosphere. The preheat station (S3) is positioned in a continuous manner with the loading load lock station (S2) and is configured to receive the plate glass (20) from the loading load lock station (S2) and preheat it. The fire polishing station (S4) or working station is positioned in a continuous manner with the preheat station (S3) and is configured to receive the plate glass (20) from the preheat station (S3) and fire polish it. The annealing station (S5) is positioned in a continuous manner with the fire polishing station (S4) and is configured to receive the plate glass (20) from the fire polishing station (S4) and slow cool it. The unloading load lock station (S6) is positioned in a continuous manner with the annealing station (S5) and protects the vacuum atmosphere from being exposed to the atmosphere. The unloading station (S7) is arranged to be continuous with the unloading load lock station (S6) and is configured to receive and unload the plate glass (20) from the unloading load lock station (S6).

[0017] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention polishes the edge (21) of plate glass (20) or glass substrate by heating it with a flame (F). The flame (F) is configured to radiate to the edge (21) while swirling along the perimeter of the plate glass (20). By the radiation of the flame (F), fine defects (22) or cracks that have occurred on the edge (21), that is, the cut surface of the plate glass (20), are melted and removed. In FIGS. 2, 4 and 25, the plate glass (20) is illustrated as having two trapezoidal plates, but this is exemplary, and the number of plate glass (20) can be increased or decreased as needed, and the shape of the plate glass (20) can be varied.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention is equipped with a loading apparatus (100) installed at a loading station (S1) so as to load a tray (Tray: 30) on which plate glass (20) is placed by intermittent feeding. A plurality of plate glass (20) are loaded by being mounted on a tray (30) or a pallet. A plurality of supports (31) are attached to the upper surface of the tray (30) so as to lift the lower surface of the plate glass (20) from the upper surface of the tray (30). Thus, the flame (F) can be accurately radiated to the edge (21) lifted from the upper surface of the tray (30). The loading apparatus (100) is composed of a frame (110) and a conveyor (120). The conveyor (120) consists of a roller conveyor placed on the frame (110).

[0019] The loading device (100) further comprises a lifting device (130) capable of raising and lowering the conveyor (120). The lifting device (130) is composed of a vertical linear actuator (131) capable of raising and lowering the conveyor (120) up and down the frame (110). The vertical linear actuator (131) may be composed of a lead screw linear actuator having a servo motor (132), a lead screw (133), a nut block (134), a carriage (136) or a slider, and a linear motion guide (137). The servo motor (132) is mounted on the underside of the frame (210). The lead screw (133) is connected vertically to the servo motor (132) so that it can rotate by the drive of the servo motor (132). The nut convex (134) is coupled to the lead screw (133) so that it can perform screw motion along the lead screw (133). The carriage (136) is coupled to the nut convex (134). The frame (210) of the conveyor (120) is coupled to the carriage (136) so that it can be raised and lowered. The linear motion guide (137) is configured to guide the translation motion of the carriage (136) along the vertical direction.In some embodiments, the vertical linear actuator (131) may be composed of a belt-driven linear actuator, a rack and pinion actuator, a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a pneumatic rodless linear actuator, etc., capable of raising and lowering the carriage (136).

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 to 9, the fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention comprises a loading load-lock apparatus (200) installed at a loading load-lock station (S2). The loading load-lock apparatus (200) is composed of a frame (210), an outer casing (220), an inner casing (230), a door gate (240), a gate valve (250), a conveyor (260), and a gas supply line (270).

[0021] The frame (210) is positioned downstream of the loading device (100). The outer casing (220) is mounted on the upper side of the frame (210). The outer casing (220) has an inlet (221), an outlet (222), and a chamber (223) formed for transporting the tray (30) on which the plate glass (20) is mounted. The inner casing (230) is mounted inside the chamber (223) of the outer casing (220). The inner casing (230) has a chamber (231) that is open at the bottom. The chamber (231) of the inner casing (230) is partitioned from the chamber (223) of the outer casing (220) to protect the plate glass (20).

[0022] A door gate (240) is mounted on the upstream side of the outer casing (220) to open and close the entrance (221). The door gate (240) consists of a door (241) and a vertical linear actuator (242) that raises and lowers the door (241). The vertical linear actuator (242) may be composed of a hydraulic cylinder. A gate valve (250) is mounted on the downstream side of the outer casing (220) to open and close the exit (222). In some embodiments, the door gate (240) may be composed of a gate valve (250).

[0023] The conveyor (260) consists of a roller conveyor mounted on the underside of the chamber (231) to receive the tray (30) from the conveyor (120) of the loading device (100) and transport it from the inlet (221) to the outlet (222). The gas supply line (270) is connected to the chamber (231) to supply an atmosphere gas, for example, nitrogen gas (N2 gas), into the chamber (231). The gas supply line (270) may consist of a tank for storing nitrogen gas, a pipeline connecting the chamber (231) and the tank, and a vacuum pump or air pump that generates the supply power of nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas prevents contamination and static electricity of the plate glass (20) and prevents oxidation of the plate glass (20).

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 10 to 12, the fire polishing system (10) according to the present invention is equipped with a preheating furnace (300) installed in a preheat station (S3) so as to be loaded while preheating a plate glass (20). The preheating furnace (300) is equipped with a plurality of furnace modules (301; 301-1, 301-2, …, 301-n) capable of continuously transporting the plate glass (20). The furnace modules (301) are composed of a continuous furnace or a tunnel kiln capable of continuously transporting the plate glass (20). Although FIG. 1 shows six furnace modules (301) arranged in a continuous manner, this is exemplary and the number of furnace modules (301) may be increased or decreased as needed. The preheating furnace (300) preheats the plate glass (20) in stages to a temperature of 20 to 700°C. The preheating furnace (300) is composed of a frame (310), a chamber casing (320), a conveyor (330), and a heating device (340).

[0025] The frame (310) is positioned downstream of the loading load lock device (200). A chamber casing (320) is mounted on the upper side of the frame (310). The chamber casing (320) has an inlet (321), an outlet (322), and a chamber (323) formed for transporting a tray (30) on which a plate glass (20) is mounted. The inlet (321) is connected to a gate valve (250). The conveyor (330) is composed of a roller conveyor mounted inside the chamber (323) to receive the tray (30) from the conveyor (270) of the loading load lock device (220) and transport it from the inlet (321) to the outlet (322). The heating device (340) is composed of a gas burner (341) capable of preheating the plate glass (20) placed inside the chamber (323). In some embodiments, the heating device (340) may be composed of an electric heater.

[0026] The preheating furnace (300) is further equipped with an XZ stage (350) capable of moving the chamber casing (320) along the transfer direction of the plate glass (20), i.e., the X-axis direction, and also moving the chamber casing (320) up and down along the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the preheating furnace (300). The XZ stage (350) is composed of an X-axis linear actuator (351) and a Z-axis linear actuator (352). The X-axis linear actuator (351) is mounted on the upper part of the frame (310) to allow the chamber casing (320) to be moved along the X-axis direction. The Z-axis linear actuator (352) is mounted on the X-axis linear actuator (351) and is connected to the chamber casing (320) by a plurality of joint bars (353). The Z-axis linear actuator (352) raises and lowers the chamber casing (320) along the Z-axis direction. Each of the X-axis and Z-axis linear actuators (351, 352) is composed of a lead screw linear actuator.

[0027] The chamber casing (320) of the preheating furnace (300) requires maintenance during long-term operation. To maintain the chamber casing (320), the chamber casing (320) must be separated from the frame (310). After separating the furnace module (301) for maintenance from the preheat station (S3) among the furnace modules (301) constituting the preheating furnace (300), the chamber casing (320) is separated from the frame (310) by transporting it along the X-axis direction by the operation of the X-axis linear actuator (351). When maintenance of the chamber casing (320) is completed, the chamber casing (320) is transported along the X-axis direction by the operation of the X-axis linear actuator (351) and placed on the frame (310), and then the chamber casing (320) is raised along the Z-axis direction by the operation of the Z-axis linear actuator (352) so that the conveyor (270) of the loading load lock device (200) and the chamber (323) of the preheating furnace (300) can be accurately aligned. Thus, maintenance of the preheating furnace (300) can be performed easily and accurately.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 13 to 21, the fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention comprises a fire polishing apparatus (400) installed in a fire polishing station (S4) to polish the edge (21) of plate glass (20) by a flame (F). The fire polishing apparatus (400) is composed of a frame (410), a chamber casing (420), a conveyor (430), a heating device (440), and a pair of flame emission devices (450, 451).

[0029] The frame (410) is installed downstream of the preheating furnace (300). The chamber casing (420) is mounted on the upper side of the frame (410). The chamber casing (420) is open at the top and has an inlet (421), an outlet (422), and a chamber (423) formed for transporting a tray (30) on which a plate glass (20) is loaded. The conveyor (430) is composed of a roller conveyor mounted inside the chamber (423) to receive the tray (30) on which the plate glass (20) is loaded from the conveyor (330) of the preheating furnace (300) and transport it from the inlet (421) to the outlet (422).

[0030] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, FIGS. 16, FIGS. 17, FIGS. 20, and FIGS. 21, the heating device (440) is composed of an electric heater (441) capable of heating and softening a plate glass (20) positioned above the chamber (423). The electric heater (441) is positioned above the conveyor (430). In some embodiments, the heating device (440) may be composed of a gas burner. Each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451) is positioned to emit a flame to the edge (21) and has a gas torch (450a, 451a) that emits a flame (F) to the edge (21). In some embodiments, a pair of flame emitting devices (450, 451) are installed to fire polish two glass plates (20), but the flame emitting devices (450, 451) may be increased or decreased depending on the number of glass plates (20).

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 13 to 21, the fire polishing device (400) is equipped with a multi-axis robot (460) that performs translational motion along the XYZ axes and rotational motion around the Z axis so that each of the flame-emitting devices (450, 451) can be rotated along the circumference of the glass plate (20). The multi-axis robot (460) or 4-axis robot is configured to perform translational motion along the XYZ axes and rotational motion along the Z axis for each of the flame-emitting devices (450, 451) along the edge (21). The multi-axis robot (460) is equipped with a pair of X-axis linear actuators (461, 462), a pair of first and second Y-axis linear actuators (463, 464), a pair of first and second Z-axis linear actuators (465, 466), and first and second rotary actuators (First and Second rotary actuator: 467, 468).

[0032] Each of the X-axis linear actuators (461, 462) is mounted on the upper surface of the frame (410) at a distance from each other along the X-axis direction, that is, the transport direction of the glass plate (20), and has a carriage (461a) that translates along the X-axis direction. The carriage (461a) is positioned between the X-axis linear actuators (461, 462) so that it can translate along the X-axis direction by the operation of the X-axis linear actuators (461, 462). Each of the first and second Y-axis linear actuators (463, 464) is mounted on the upper surface of the carriage (461a) at a distance from each other along the Y-axis direction and has a carriage (463a, 464a) that translates along the Y-axis direction, that is, a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the glass plate (20). Each of the first and second Z-axis linear actuators (465, 466) is mounted on the upper surface of each of the carriages (463a, 464a) spaced apart from each other along the Z-axis direction and has a carriage (465a, 466a) that translates along the Z-axis direction, i.e., the height direction. Each of the X-axis linear actuators (461, 462), the first and second Y-axis linear actuators (463, 464), and the first and second Z-axis linear actuators (465, 466) is composed of a lead screw linear actuator. Each of the first and second rotary actuators (467, 468) is mounted on each of the carriages (465a, 466a) and is connected to each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451).

[0033] As illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 21, the fire polishing device (400) further comprises a stopping device (470) capable of restraining the tray (30) in the fire polishing position (S4). The stopping device (470) consists of a stopper (471) and a vertical linear actuator (472). The stopper (471) is positioned above the conveyor (430) to restrain the leading edge of the tray (30) in the conveying direction. The vertical linear actuator (472) is mounted below the conveyor (430) to raise and lower the stopper (471).

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1, 22, and 23, the fire polishing system (10) according to the present invention comprises an annealing furnace (500) installed in an annealing station (S5). The annealing furnace (500) comprises a plurality of furnace modules (501; 501-1, 501-2, …, 501-n) capable of continuously transporting plate glass (20), similar to the preheating furnace (300). The furnace modules (501) are composed of a continuous furnace or a tunnel furnace capable of continuously transporting plate glass (20). Although FIG. 1 shows five furnace modules (501) arranged in a continuous manner, this is exemplary, and the number of furnace modules (501) can be increased or decreased as needed. The annealing furnace (500) slowly cools the plate glass (20), on which the curved glass (30) is placed, to approximately 40°C.

[0035] The slow cooling furnace (500) is equipped with a frame (510), a chamber casing (520), a conveyor (530), a heating device (540), and an XZ stage (550). The frame (510), chamber casing (520), conveyor (530), heating device (540), and XZ stage (550) of the slow cooling furnace (500) have the same or similar basic configuration and operation as the frame (310), chamber casing (320), conveyor (330), heating device (340), and XZ stage (350) of the preheating furnace (300). Therefore, a detailed description of the configuration and operation of the slow cooling furnace (500) is omitted and will be omitted with reference to the description of the configuration and operation of the preheating furnace (300). It is positioned downstream of the frame (510). The chamber casing (520) is connected to the chamber (423) of the fire polishing device (400).

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1, 24, and 25, the fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention is equipped with an unloading load-lock apparatus (600) installed at an unloading load-lock station (S6). The unloading load-lock apparatus (600) is equipped with a frame (610), an outer casing (620), an inner casing (630), a door gate (640), a gate valve (650), a conveyor (660), and a gas supply line (670) to maintain a vacuum atmosphere. The frame (610), outer casing (620), inner casing (630), door gate (640), gate valve (650), conveyor (660), and gas supply line (670) of the unloading load lock device (600) have the same or similar basic configuration and operation as the frame (210), outer casing (220), inner casing (230), door gate (240), gate valve (250), conveyor (260), and gas supply line (270) of the loading load lock device (200). Therefore, a detailed description of the configuration and operation of the unloading load lock device (600) is omitted and will be referred to in the description of the configuration and operation of the loading load lock device (200). The frame (610) is positioned downstream of the slow cooling furnace (500). The chamber casing (520) is connected to the chamber (423) of the fire polishing device (400). The chamber casing (520) has an inlet (521), an outlet (522), and a chamber (523) formed for transporting a tray (30) on which a plate glass (20) is mounted.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1, 26, and 27, the fire polishing system (10) for plate glass according to the present invention is equipped with an unloading apparatus (700) installed at an unloading station (S7) for unloading a plate glass (20) on which a curved glass (30) is placed. The unloading apparatus (700) is equipped with a frame (710), a conveyor (720), and a lifting device (730). The frame (710), conveyor (720), and lifting device (730) of the unloading apparatus (700) have the same or similar basic configuration and operation as the frame (210), conveyor (220), and lifting device (230) of the loading apparatus (200). Therefore, a detailed description of the configuration and operation of the unloading apparatus (700) is omitted and is to be referenced to the description of the configuration and operation of the loading apparatus (200).

[0038] From now on, the operation of the fire polishing system for plate glass according to the present invention having such a configuration will be explained.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, a plate glass (20) is mounted on a tray (30). The tray (30) is intermittently transported from a loading station (S1) to a loading load lock station (S2) by the operation of a conveyor (120). When placing the tray (30) on the conveyor (120), if the conveyor (120) is lowered by the operation of a lifting device (130), the tray (30) can be easily placed on the conveyor (120) at a low position.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 6 through 9, a tray (30) on which a plate glass (20) is mounted is transferred from the conveyor (120) of the loading device (100) to the conveyor (270) of the loading load lock device (200) through the inlet (221). The tray (30) is transported into the chamber (231) of the inner casing (230) by the operation of the conveyor (270). When the plate glass (20) is placed inside the chamber (222), the door (241) closes the inlet (221). With the gate valve (250) closed, nitrogen gas is supplied into the chamber (231) by the operation of the gas supply line (280) to prevent oxidation of the plate glass (20) and to prevent contamination and static electricity of the plate glass (20).

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 10 to 12, when the gate valve (250) is opened, the tray (30) is transferred from the conveyor (270) of the loading load lock device (200) to the conveyor (330) of the preheating furnace (300) through the outlet (222) of the outer casing (220) and the inlet (321) of the chamber casing (320). The tray (30) is transported and placed inside the chamber (323) of the chamber casing (320) by the operation of the conveyor (330). As the temperature inside the chamber (323) rises due to heating by the heating device (340), the plate glass (20) is preheated and softened.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 13 to 21, a tray (30) on which a plate glass (20) is mounted is transferred from the conveyor (330) of the preheating furnace (300) to the conveyor (430) through the exit (322) and the inlet (421) of the fire polishing device (400). The tray (30) enters the chamber (423) by the operation of the conveyor (430). A heating device (440) is operated to heat the plate glass (20) placed inside the chamber (423) and soften the plate glass (20).

[0043] As illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the vertical linear actuator (472) of the stopping device (470) is actuated to raise the stopper (471). The leading edge of the tray (30) in the direction of transport, which is transported by the operation of the conveyor (430), is caught on the raised stopper (471) and stopped. Additionally, when the leading edge of the tray (30) in the direction of transport catches on the stopper (471), the conveyor (430) is stopped. Thus, the plate glass (20) is accurately positioned at the fire polishing position of the fire polishing station (S4), which can fire polish the edge (21) by the operation of each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451).

[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 21, and 22, when the glass plate (20) is placed in the fire polishing position, a flame (F) is emitted by the operation of each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451) to polish the edge (21). Cracks (22) or fine defects on the edge (F) are precisely removed as they are melted by the heating of the flame (F).

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 15 to 19 and FIG. 21, each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451) rotates along the perimeter of the glass plate (20) by the operation of a multi-axis robot (460) and emits a flame (F) to the edge (21). Each of the first and second Z-axis linear actuators (465, 466) raises and lowers the carriages (465a, 466a) along the Z-axis, i.e., the height direction, to adjust the height of each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451) so that the flame (F) emitted from the gas torch (450a, 451a) is accurately emitted to the edge (21).

[0046] Meanwhile, each of the X-axis linear actuators (461, 462) translates the carriage (461a) along the X-axis direction. Each of the first and second Y-axis linear actuators (463, 464) translates the carriages (463a, 464a) along the Y-axis direction. By the operation of each of these X-axis linear actuators (461, 462) and the first and second Y-axis linear actuators (463, 464), the gas torches (450a, 451a) of each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451) rotate around the plate glass (20). Each of the first and second rotary actuators (467, 468) rotates each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451) so that the flame (F) emitted from each of the gas torches (450a, 451a) is directed toward the edge (21). Thus, regardless of the size of the glass plate (20), the edge (21) of the glass plate (20) can be precisely fire-polished by the flame (F) emitted from each of the flame emitting devices (450, 451).

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 16, 20, and 21, when the fire polishing of the plate glass (20) is completed, the stopper (471) is lowered by the operation of the vertical linear actuator (472). When the stopper (471) is lowered to its initial position, the restraint of the tray (30) is released. When the restraint of the tray (30) is released, it is transported out of the chamber casing (420) through the outlet (422) by the operation of the conveyor (430).

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1, 22 and 23, the tray (30) is transferred from the conveyor (430) of the fire polishing device (400) to the conveyor (530) through the outlet (422) and the inlet (521) of the slow cooling furnace (500). The conveyor (530) intermittently transports the plate glass (20) along the chamber (523) of the slow cooling furnace (500). The plate glass (20) is slow cooled to approximately 40°C inside the chamber (523) of the slow cooling furnace (500) by the operation of the heating device (540).

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1, 24 and 25, when the door gate (640) is opened, the tray (30) is transferred to the conveyor (670) through the exit (522) of the slow cooling furnace (500) and the inlet (621) of the unloading load lock device (600) by the operation of the conveyor (530). When the gate valve (650) is opened, the tray (30) is transferred to the exit (622) of the unloading load lock device (600) by the operation of the conveyor (670).

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 1, 26, and 27, the tray (30) is transferred from the conveyor (670) of the unloading load lock device (600) to the conveyor (720) of the loading device (700) through the exit (622). The tray (30) is unloaded by the operation of the conveyor (720). After cooling the plate glass (20), the plate glass (20) is removed from the tray (30).

[0051] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Various changes, modifications, or substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art within the technical spirit and scope of the claims of the present invention, and such embodiments should be understood as falling within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0052] 10: Curved glass forming system 20: Plate glass 21: Edge 30: Tray 100: Loading device 200: Loading load lock device 300: Preheating furnace 400: Fire polishing device 420: Chamber casing 450, 451: Flame thrower 460: Multi-axis robot 470: Stopping device 500: Slow cooling furnace 600: Unloading load lock device 700: Unloading device S1~S7: Stations

Claims

Claim 1 A fire polishing system for plate glass comprising: a loading station for loading plate glass; a loading load lock station arranged to receive the plate glass from the loading station and maintaining a vacuum atmosphere; a preheat station arranged to receive the plate glass from the loading load lock station and preheat the plate glass; a fire polishing station arranged to receive the plate glass from the preheat station and fire polishing the edge of the plate glass by swirling a flame along the perimeter of the plate glass; an annealing station arranged to receive the plate glass from the fire polishing station and slow-cool the plate glass; an unloading load lock station arranged to receive the plate glass from the annealing station and maintaining a vacuum atmosphere; and an unloading station arranged to receive the plate glass from the unloading load lock station and unload it. Claim 2 A fire polishing system for glass plates according to claim 1, further comprising a tray for mounting the glass plates, wherein the tray has a plurality of supports disposed on the upper side of the tray so as to support the lower surface of the glass plates by lifting them from the upper surface of the tray. Claim 3 A glass plate fire polishing system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a loading and unloading device installed at each of the loading and unloading stations, wherein each of the loading and unloading devices comprises a frame, a conveyor mounted on the frame to transport the glass plate, and a vertical linear actuator for raising and lowering the conveyor. Claim 4 A fire polishing system for plate glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the loading and unloading load lock stations is equipped with a loading and unloading load lock device, and each of the loading and unloading load lock devices comprises: a frame; an outer casing mounted on the upper part of the frame and having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber formed therein to transport the plate glass; an inner casing mounted inside the chamber of the outer casing and having a chamber formed therein that is partitioned from the chamber of the outer casing to transport the plate glass; a conveyor mounted on the lower part of the inner casing to transport the plate glass; a door gate mounted on the upstream side of the outer casing to open and close the inlet; a gate valve mounted on the downstream side of the outer casing to open and close the outlet; and a gas supply line for supplying atmosphere gas into the chamber of the inner casing. Claim 5 A fire polishing system for plate glass according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a preheating furnace installed in the preheat station, wherein the preheating furnace comprises: a frame; a chamber casing mounted on the upper part of the frame and having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber formed therein to transport the plate glass; a conveyor mounted on the lower part of the chamber to transport the plate glass; and a heating device for preheating the plate glass disposed inside the chamber. Claim 6 A fire polishing system for plate glass according to claim 5, further comprising an XZ stage capable of transporting the chamber casing along the transport direction of the plate glass and raising and lowering the chamber casing along the height direction of the preheating furnace. Claim 7 A fire polishing system for plate glass according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a slow cooling furnace installed in the annealing station, wherein the slow cooling furnace comprises: a frame; a chamber casing mounted on the upper part of the frame and having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber formed therein to transport the plate glass; a conveyor mounted on the lower part of the chamber to transport the plate glass; and a heating device disposed inside the chamber for slow cooling the plate glass. Claim 8 A fire polishing system for plate glass according to claim 9, further comprising an XZ stage capable of transporting the chamber casing along the transport direction of the plate glass and raising and lowering the chamber casing along the height direction of the slow cooling furnace. Claim 9 A fire polishing system for glass plates according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a fire polishing device installed in the fire polishing station, wherein the fire polishing device comprises: a frame; a chamber casing mounted on the upper part of the frame and having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber formed therein to transport the glass plates; a conveyor mounted inside the chamber to transport the glass plates; a heating device for heating the glass plates disposed inside the chamber; and a pair of flame radiating devices for radiating flames along the perimeter of the glass plates to fire polish the edges of the glass plates. Claim 10 A fire polishing system for glass plates according to claim 9, wherein the fire polishing device comprises a multi-axis robot for rotating the flame along the perimeter of the glass plate, and the multi-axis robot comprises: a pair of X-axis linear actuators for translating each of the pair of flame emitting devices along the conveying direction of the glass plate; a pair of first and second Y-axis linear actuators for translating each of the pair of flame emitting devices along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the glass plate; a pair of first and second Z-axis linear actuators mounted on each of the pair of first and second Y-axis linear actuators for raising and lowering the pair of flame emitting devices along the height direction of the glass plate; and first and second rotary actuators connected to each of the pair of flame emitting devices to rotate each of the pair of flame emitting devices. Claim 11 In claim 9, the fire polishing device further comprises a stopping device for restraining a tray that is transported by the operation of the conveyor and which is loaded with the plate glass, wherein the stopping device comprises a stopper arranged to restrain the leading edge of the tray in the transport direction; and a vertical linear actuator for raising and lowering the stopper to restrain the tray, a fire polishing system for plate glass. Claim 12 A fire polishing device for glass plates comprising: a frame; a chamber casing mounted on the upper part of the frame and having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber formed therein to transport the glass plates; a conveyor mounted on the lower part of the chamber to transport the glass plates; a heating device for heating the glass plates disposed inside the chamber; a pair of flame radiating devices for fire polishing the edges of the glass plates by radiating flames along the perimeter of the glass plates; and a multi-axis robot for rotating the flames along the perimeter of the glass plates. Claim 13 A fire polishing device for glass plate according to claim 12, wherein the multi-axis robot comprises: a pair of X-axis linear actuators that translate each of the pair of flame emitting devices along the conveying direction of the glass plate; a pair of first and second Y-axis linear actuators that translate each of the pair of flame emitting devices along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the glass plate; a pair of first and second Z-axis linear actuators mounted on each of the pair of first and second Y-axis linear actuators and raising and lowering the pair of flame emitting devices along the height direction of the glass plate; and first and second rotary actuators connected to each of the pair of flame emitting devices so as to rotate each of the pair of flame emitting devices.

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