Device for polishing the edge of a glass sheet

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for polishing the edge of a glass sheet. The invention is of the type that comprises: a drive shaft for rotating around the axis of rotation thereof by means of a motor, and a grinding wheel which is connected to the drive shaft in order to polish the edge of a glass sheet. The grinding wheel comprising a groove formed in the outer periphery thereof, which contains a grinding material for polishing the edge of the glass sheet. The grinding wheel is also provided with a plurality of internal passages which extend radially from the centre of the wheel to the outer periphery thereof, in order to enable the passage of a cooling fluid for the cooling of the periphery of the wheel. In addition, a collecting chamber is formed at the centre of the grinding wheel in order to receive and supply the cooling fluid through the passages in the wheel. Cooling fluid supply means are connected to the collecting chamber in order to supply said fluid to the chamber for the cooling of the periphery of the wheel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is referred to a device for polishing the edge of a glass sheet and more specifically, to a device for polishing the edge of a glass sheet, that includes a grinding wheel with integral cooling passages for the cooling of said wheel. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is well known that sheets of glass, for example, glass for the automotive industry, mirrors, etc. have been cut in keeping with the desired shape, which therefore has to have its edges polished, both for eliminating any possible burrs as well for removing small peripheral fractures that might cause the glass to shatter during the next process that it will be subjected to such as tempering, bending, etc. [0003] Regularly, the edges of the sheets of glass are subjected to a process known as “machining the edge with polishing”, which consists of passing a fine grain polisher or a diamond wheel through the length of the edge of the sheet or glass plate several times. Th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] A first objective of the present invention is to provide a device for polishing the edge of a glass sheet which includes a grinding wheel having cooling passages, for the continuous and uniform cooling of the wheel.

[0020] Other additional objective of the present invention is to provide a device for polishing the edge of a glass sheet, that due to its configuration, permits to increase the depth of the grinding section (diamond), increasing the useful life of the grinding wheel and so minimize the production stops by change of said grinding wheel.

[0021] An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a device for polishing the edge of a glass sheet, which avoid the burning of the edge of the glass sheet, due mainly to a direct and continuous flow of the cooling fluid on the glass sheet.

Problems solved by technology

However, the main problem that is presented with this type of grinders, is that, the outer surface of the grinding wheel has a certain diamond thickness (through which the glass edge is polished), the grinding wheel has to be frequently changed, making continuous stops to the production line, which affects the productivity.

Another problem that presents itself in the grinding or polishing used for sheets of glass is that on some occasions the water does not fall directly onto the grindstone, thus provoking the edge of the sheet of glass to get burnt.

However, in some cases, the sheet of glass had already been damaged (by spots or burnt places), and because of this it has to be discarded because it does not comply with the quality standards that are required by the automotive industry.

However, notwithstanding that there are diverse equipments and inventions related with grinding wheels for different uses, the grinding wheels that includes cooling are very complex, in view that includes the formation of chambers, caps, etc, which make that the manufacture of the grinding wheel be very expensive.

Furthermore, due to the complexity of the previous art grinding wheel, there is not possible to increase the grinding area to increase the useful life, in view that the fact that the grinding wheels contain cooling chambers impeded to increase the depth of the grinding area and with this to increase the useful life of the grinding wheel.

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