Method for manufacturing a wedge glass

Abstract

A bending stress is applied to a glass sheet by a cross cutting machine to cut the glass sheet along a cross cutting line to form a glass member, a bending stress is applied to the glass member by a longitudinal cutting machine to cut the glass member along a longitudinal cutting line and to separate an unnecessary portion, a wedge angle at a management position X of the glass product portion is detected by an inspection device, and the position of the longitudinal cutting line formed by the longitudinal cutting machine in the width direction is controlled based on the wedge angle at the management position X, so that the wedge angle at the management position X is controlled to be within a predetermined range from a desired wedge angle at the management position X.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass. Background Technology

[0002] Flat glass manufactured using the float glass process is typically a flat sheet with minimal thickness variation. However, for windshields, for example, those with a head-up display (HUD) function that displays information on the windshield of a car, it is known that using wedge-shaped glass of variable thickness can reduce ghosting, which can be a problem when the driver is viewing the scenery outside the vehicle or the information displayed on the HUD.

[0003] As a method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass, a method is under investigation in which multiple top rollers abut against one end of a glass strip traveling on a molten metal bath (float tank), forming a glass plate with a convex, concave, or conical cross section in the width direction orthogonal to the direction of travel, and cutting the glass plate to obtain a wedge-shaped glass product (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). Existing technical documents Patent documents

[0004] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2016 / 117650 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-73509 Patent Document 3: US Patent No. 7,122,242 Summary of the Invention The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0005] However, in the manufacturing process of wedge glass, if the glass strip is meandering, the position of the glass sheet in the width direction will change. Therefore, the position of the glass sheet cut in the width direction will also change, and the wedge angle and thickness of the resulting glass product will also vary. Consequently, the wedge angle of the wedge glass cannot be maintained within a predetermined range. Especially when the wedge angle in the area of ​​the wedge glass used as a HUD (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the HUD display area) cannot be kept within the specified range, ghosting in the HUD display area cannot be effectively suppressed.

[0006] The present invention was made in view of this situation, and its object is to provide a method for manufacturing wedge glass in which the wedge angle of wedge glass cut from a glass plate is maintained within a predetermined range. means of solving technical problems

[0007] The wedge-shaped glass manufacturing method of the present invention has the following characteristics: while a glass sheet having a thickness variation section along its width direction is transported by multiple transport rollers, a longitudinal slitting machine forms a longitudinal slitting line along the length direction of the glass sheet, a transverse slitting machine forms a transverse slitting line along the width direction of the glass sheet, a transverse bending machine applies bending stress to the glass sheet to cut the glass sheet along the transverse slitting line to form a glass component, a longitudinal bending machine applies bending stress to the glass component to cut the glass component along the longitudinal slitting line, and unwanted parts are removed to form a wedge-shaped glass product part, an inspection device detects the wedge angle at a management position X of the glass product part, and the position of the longitudinal slitting line formed by the longitudinal slitting machine in the width direction is controlled according to the wedge angle at the management position X, thereby controlling the wedge angle at the management position X to be within a specified range from the difference between it and the ideal wedge angle at the predetermined management position X. Invention Effects

[0008] According to the present invention, the slitting machine can be controlled based on the wedge angle at the management position X. Therefore, a wedge-shaped glass product portion can be cut from the glass plate at an appropriate position in a manner that keeps the wedge angle at the management position X within a specified range. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 (a) to (c) are cross-sectional views of the glass sheet for wedge-shaped glass in the width direction. Figure 1 (a) is an example of a convex shape. Figure 1 (b) is an example of a concave shape. Figure 1 (c) is an example of a cone shape. Figure 2 This is a top view showing a first embodiment of a method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass. Figure 3 This is a top view illustrating a second embodiment of the wedge-shaped glass manufacturing method. Figure 4A This is a top view showing the wedge angle detection method at the management location X. Figure 4B This is a top view showing the wedge angle detection method at the management location X. Figure 4C This is a top view showing the wedge angle detection method at the management location X. Detailed Implementation

[0010] The first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0011] [First Implementation Method] Figure 1(a) to (c) are cross-sectional views of the glass sheet for wedge-shaped glass in the width direction. Figure 1 (a) is an example of a convex shape. Figure 1 (b) is an example of a concave shape. Figure 1 (c) is an example of a cone shape. Figure 2 This is a top view showing a first embodiment of the wedge glass manufacturing method. The glass sheet 10 is continuously transported in the wedge glass manufacturing apparatus 100 while being cut and inspected to form wedge-shaped glass product sections 11A and 11B.

[0012] <Glass Plate> Figure 2 The glass sheet 10 shown has a thickness variation section along its width direction, i.e., direction B (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the width direction). The thickness variation section of the glass sheet 10 can be formed, for example, by bringing multiple top rollers abutting one end of a glass ribbon traveling on a molten metal bath (float bath) and adjusting the circumferential speed or pressure of the top rollers. The thickness variation section can also be adjusted by the temperature distribution of the glass ribbon in the width direction and the travel speed of the glass ribbon.

[0013] The cross-section of the glass plate 10 in the width direction is as follows: Figure 1 (a) shows a convex shape. The glass plate 10 is composed of lugs 12A and 12B located on both sides in the width direction, a central portion 13 including the thickest area of ​​the plate, a first glass article portion 11A located between the lugs 12A and the central portion 13, and a second glass article portion 11B located between the lugs 12B and the central portion 13. The glass article portions 11A and 11B are the parts that ultimately become the finished product.

[0014] Plain glass slabs can also be like... Figure 1 (b) shows a glass plate 20 with a concave cross-section in the width direction. The glass plate 20 is composed of ears 22A and 22B located on both sides in the width direction, a central portion 23 including the thinnest region of the plate, a first glass product portion 21A located between the ears 22A and the central portion 23, and a second glass product portion 21B located between the ears 22B and the central portion 23.

[0015] Glass slabs can also be like... Figure 1 (c) shows a glass plate 30 with a tapered cross-section in the width direction. The glass plate 30 is composed of lugs 32A and 32B located on both sides in the width direction, and a glass article section 31 located between lugs 32A and 32B. In addition, it is not necessary for all areas of the cross-section of the glass plate 30 in the width direction to be tapered; only a portion of the area may be tapered.

[0016] The embodiment using the glass plate 10 will be described below, but it can also be implemented using the glass plate 20 or the glass plate 30. In this case, the glass parts 11A and 11B of the glass plate 10 correspond to the glass parts 21A and 21B of the glass plate 20 and the glass part 31 of the glass plate 30. The ears 12A and 12B of the glass plate 10 correspond to the ears 22A and 22B of the glass plate 20 and the ears 32A and 32B of the glass plate 30. The central portion 13 of the glass plate 10 corresponds to the central portion 23 of the glass plate 20.

[0017] <Transporting Roller> The glass sheet 10, formed into a section with varying thickness in the width direction, is made of... Figure 2 The multiple transport rollers 110 shown transport the glass plate 10 along its length direction, i.e., direction A (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the length direction). The transport rollers 110 are arranged at certain intervals along the transport path and are driven to rotate by a rotary drive mechanism (not shown).

[0018] Slitting machine The glass plate 10 transported by the conveying roller 110 utilizes Figure 2 The longitudinal slitting machine 120 shown forms longitudinal slitting lines L1 to L4 along the length direction.

[0019] Longitudinal lines L1 to L4 are scribe lines used to separate the glass plate 10 into glass parts 11A and 11B, lugs 12A and 12B, and a central part 13. Longitudinal line L1 is formed at the boundary between glass part 11A and lug 12A. Longitudinal line L2 is formed at the boundary between glass part 11B and lug 12B. Longitudinal line L3 is formed at the boundary between glass part 11A and the central part 13. Longitudinal line L4 is formed at the boundary between glass part 11B and the central part 13.

[0020] The slitting machine 120 is equipped with multiple cutting blades 121 that can move forward and backward along the thickness direction (C direction, sometimes simply referred to as the thickness direction) of the glass sheet and along the width direction. By moving each cutting blade 121 toward the main surface of the glass (in the direction opposite to C direction), the cutting blades 121 abut against the glass sheet 10 with a specified pressing force, and process longitudinal cutting lines L1 to L4 on the glass sheet 10.

[0021] The position of the longitudinal tangents L1 to L4 of the glass plate 10 in the width direction can be controlled by adjusting the position of each cutter 121 in the width direction.

[0022] <Cross-cutting machine> After the glass plate 10, transported by the conveying roller 110, forms longitudinal tangents L1 to L4, it is then transported by... Figure 2 The cross-cutting machine 130 shown forms a cross-cut line L5 in the width direction.

[0023] The cross-cut line L5 is a scribing line used to cut the glass component 10P from the glass plate 10.

[0024] The cross-cutting machine 130 is equipped with a cutter 131 that can move forward and backward along the thickness direction (C direction) and along a surface direction perpendicular to the thickness direction. By moving the cutter 131 toward the main surface of the glass (in the direction opposite to C direction), the cutter 131 abuts against the glass sheet 10 with a predetermined pressing force. By moving the abutting cutter 131 and the glass sheet 10 at an oblique speed relative to the length direction in sync with the transport speed of the glass sheet 10, a cross-cut line L5 is processed in the width direction of the glass sheet 10.

[0025] <Horizontal Folding Machine> After the glass plate 10, transported by the conveying roller 110, forms the cross-section L5, it is then transported by... Figure 2 The folding machine 140 shown applies bending stress and breaks along the transverse line L5, thereby cutting out the glass component 10P.

[0026] The transverse bending machine 140 is equipped with a pressing roller (not shown) that can move forward and backward along the thickness direction of the glass plate. The transverse bending machine 140 presses the glass plate 10 from below using the pressing roller, applying bending stress along the length direction with the transverse tangent line L5 as the center, and breaking the glass plate 10 along the transverse tangent line L5. As a result, glass component 10P is cut from the glass plate 10.

[0027] The glass component 10P cut from the glass plate 10 is moved from the transport roller 110 to the transport roller 111, which is shorter in the width direction than the transport roller 110.

[0028] <First Vertical Folding Machine> The glass component 10P, transported by the shorter transport roller 111 in the width direction, is... Figure 2 The first longitudinal bending machine 150 shown applies bending stress and breaks along longitudinal tangents L1 and L2, thereby breaking off the ears 12A and 12B, and cutting out the glass component 10Q without the ears.

[0029] The first longitudinal folding machine 150 includes support rollers that support the glass member 10P from the lower side in the C direction with ears 12A and 12B, and a pressing protrusion (not shown) that presses the glass member 10P from the upper side. The pressing protrusion and the support rollers can move in the width direction. In addition, the support rollers can rotate freely in the length direction.

[0030] The first longitudinal bending machine 150 supports the ears 12A and 12B from the lower side in the C direction using support rollers, and presses them from the upper side in the C direction using pressing protrusions, thereby applying bending stress in the width direction and breaking the ears 12A and 12B along the longitudinal tangents L1 and L2. As a result, a glass component 10Q without ears is cut from the glass component 10P.

[0031] The position of the bending stress applied by the first longitudinal bending machine 150 to the glass plate 10 in the width direction can be controlled by adjusting the position of the support roller and the pressing protrusion in the width direction.

[0032] The ears 12A and 12B separated from the glass component 10P are pulled under the shorter transport roller 111 in the width direction as unwanted parts, thereby being removed from the transport path. The glass component 10Q without ears, cut from the glass component 10P, is moved from the shorter transport roller 111 in the width direction to the transport roller 110.

[0033] <Second Vertical Folding Machine> The glass component 10Q without ears, transported by the conveying roller 110, utilizes Figure 2 The second longitudinal bending machine 160 shown applies bending stress and breaks along the longitudinal tangents L3 and L4, thereby separating the glass product parts 11A and 11B and the central part 13 as an unnecessary part.

[0034] The second longitudinal bending machine 160 is equipped with a pressing roller (not shown) that can move forward and backward along the thickness direction and along the width direction. The second longitudinal bending machine 160 presses the glass member 10Q without ears from below by the pressing roller, applying bending stress along the width direction with longitudinal tangents L3 and L4 as the center, and breaking it along the longitudinal tangents L3 and L4. As a result, glass product parts 11A and 11B are cut from the glass member 10Q without ears.

[0035] The position of the bending stress applied to the glass plate 10 by the second longitudinal bending machine 160 in the width direction can be controlled by adjusting the position of the pressing roller in the width direction.

[0036] The glass parts 11A and 11B cut from the glass component 10Q without ears, and the central part 13 utilize Figure 2 The separation device 170 shown separates in the width direction.

[0037] The separating device 170 is disposed between the two conveying rollers 110 and has a separating roller or a separating protrusion (not shown). The glass product sections 11A and 11B and the central section 13 are separated by the separating roller or the separating protrusion, thereby increasing the distance between the components.

[0038] The positions of the glass product sections 11A and 11B in the width direction after passing through the separation device 170 can be controlled by adjusting the position of the separation rollers or separation protrusions.

[0039] <Inspection Device> Glass products sections 11A and 11B, which are transported by the separating device 170 and the conveying rollers 110, are utilized... Figure 2 The inspection device 180 shown detects the wedge angle at the management position X.

[0040] Figure 4A This is a top view illustrating the wedge angle detection method at the management location X. (Example) Figure 4A As shown, the management position X of the glass product section 11A is located at a predetermined distance from one end E1 of the glass product section 11A. Similarly, the management position X of the glass product section 11B is located at a predetermined distance from one end E2 of the glass product section 11B.

[0041] The wedge angle at the management position X of glass products sections 11A and 11B is calculated based on the thickness at the management position Y that moves from the management position X along the width direction, the thickness at the management position Z that moves from the management position X along the width direction opposite to the management position Y, and the distance between the management position Y and the management position Z in the width direction.

[0042] When management position X is located at the midpoint between management position Y and management position Z, the wedge angle δ at management position X is calculated according to the following relationship (1).

[0043]

Number 1

[0044] δ: Wedge angle at management location X (unit: mrad) T Y Thickness of the glass products section at location Y (in mm) T Z Thickness of the glass products section at location Z (in mm) d: Distance in the width direction between management positions Y and Z (unit: mm)

[0045] Inspection device 180 Figure 4A As shown, the system includes four plate thickness measuring devices 181 and sensors 182 that can move along the width direction. Sensors 182 determine the positions of one end E1 of glass product section 11A and one end E2 of glass product section 11B in the width direction. Based on the positions of ends E1 and E2, each plate thickness measuring device 181 is moved to the vicinity of management positions Y and Z of glass product sections 11A and 11B, respectively, and the plate thickness at each management position is measured. From this, the wedge angle at management position X of glass product sections 11A and 11B is calculated.

[0046] Here, it is preferable that the wedge angle at the management position X of the glass product section 11A (or 11B), detected by the inspection device 180 while being transported by the transport roller 110, is within ±0.1 mrad relative to the actual wedge angle at the management position X of the glass product section 11A (or 11B) when the movement of the glass product section 11A (or 11B) being transported by the transport roller 110 has stopped. If it is within ±0.1 mrad, the accuracy of the wedge angle measurement during transport can be maintained. The difference between the wedge angle and the actual wedge angle is more preferably within ±0.05 mrad, and even more preferably within ±0.03 mrad. This also applies to the second embodiment.

[0047] The distance between management position Y and management position Z in the width direction is preferably 50 mm to 250 mm. If it is 50 mm or more, measurement errors caused by vibration transmitted from the transport roller 110 can be suppressed. If it is 250 mm or less, since the management positions Y and Z for measuring the plate thickness are close to the management position X, the wedge angle at management position X can be calculated with high accuracy. The distance between management position Y and management position Z in the width direction is more preferably 70 mm to 230 mm. The distance between management position Y and management position Z in the width direction is appropriately selected according to the spacing of the transport rollers 110 and the transport speed. This also applies to the second embodiment.

[0048] When the glass component 11A or 11B is installed as a vehicle windshield or window glass and used as a head-up display, it is preferable that the management position X is located within the head-up display display area (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the HUD display area), and more preferably in the center of the head-up display display area. This also applies to the second embodiment.

[0049] The HUD display area is a display area that reflects projected images from inside the vehicle to display information. The HUD display area is set to be the range on the windshield from the reflector constituting the HUD when the reflector is rotated and viewed from point V1 as specified in JIS R3212:2015.

[0050] The wedge glass manufacturing apparatus 100 is controlled by the control device 190 according to the wedge angle at the management position X located in the HUD display area, thereby improving the accuracy of maintaining the wedge angle in the HUD display area within a specified range.

[0051] <Control Device> The wedge angle at the management position X calculated by the inspection device 180 is transmitted to... Figure 2The control device 190 is shown. The control device 190 controls the wedge glass manufacturing apparatus 100 based on the trend of the transmitted wedge angle, thereby controlling the wedge angle at the management position X to be within a specified range from the difference between the wedge angle at the predetermined management position X and the ideal wedge angle at the predetermined management position X. Here, the trend of the wedge angle refers to the increase or decrease of the wedge angle transmitted to the control device 190 over time.

[0052] The control device 190 changes the position of the longitudinal tangents L1 to L4 in the width direction according to the increase or decrease of the wedge angle at the management position X. The position of the longitudinal tangents L1 to L4 in the width direction can be moved by changing the position of each cutter 121 provided in the slitting machine 120 in the width direction using the control device 190. In this way, the glass product portions 11A and 11B can be cut from the glass plate 10 at appropriate positions so that the wedge angle at the management position X is close to the ideal wedge angle.

[0053] The control device 190 preferably adjusts the position of the bending stress applied by the first longitudinal bending machine 150 and the second longitudinal bending machine 160 in the width direction according to the trend of the transmitted wedge angle or the position change of the longitudinal tangent. The position of the bending stress applied by the first longitudinal bending machine 150 in the width direction can be moved by adjusting the position of the pressing protrusion and support roller of the first longitudinal bending machine 150 in the width direction. The position of the bending stress applied by the second longitudinal bending machine 160 in the width direction can be moved by adjusting the position of the pressing roller of the second longitudinal bending machine 160 in the width direction. In this way, glass product portions 11A and 11B can be cut from appropriate positions on the glass plate 10 with higher precision.

[0054] The control device 190 can also control the separation device 170 based on the wedge angle at the management position X. Furthermore, the control device 190 can adjust the position of the separating roller or separating protrusion in the separating device 170 according to the trend of the transmitted wedge angle and the position change of the longitudinal tangent. This allows for appropriate adjustment of the position of the glass product portions 11A and 11B on the transport roller 110 after passing through the separating device 170 in the width direction.

[0055] The control device 190 controls the wedge angle at the management position X of the glass product sections 11A and 11B so that the difference between it and the ideal wedge angle at the predetermined management position X is within a specified range. Preferably, the difference is controlled within ±0.1 mrad, and more preferably within ±0.03 mrad. This also applies to the second embodiment.

[0056] When the management position X is located within the HUD display area, the control device 190 preferably controls the wedge-shaped glass manufacturing apparatus 100 such that the wedge angle within the HUD display area of ​​the glass product sections 11A and 11B is 0.2 mrad to 1.5 mrad, more preferably 0.2 mrad to 0.9 mrad, and even more preferably 0.3 mrad to 0.8 mrad. This also applies to the second embodiment.

[0057] If the wedge angle within the HUD display area of ​​glass products sections 11A and 11B is between 0.2 mrad and 1.5 mrad, ghosting is reduced; if it is between 0.2 mrad and 0.9 mrad, ghosting is suppressed to a level that is virtually non-problematic in the market; and if it is between 0.3 mrad and 0.8 mrad, ghosting is suppressed to a resolution level below the minimum visual acuity of 0.7 required for a standard driver's license.

[0058] When the wedge-shaped glass obtained as glass products 11A and 11B is used as automotive windshield glass, the optimal wedge angle of the HUD display area is selected based on the installation angle of the windshield glass and the installation angle and position of the illuminator that displays information on the windshield glass.

[0059] [Second Implementation] Figure 3 This is a top view showing a second embodiment of the wedge-shaped glass manufacturing method. A glass sheet 10, shaped in the same manner as in the first embodiment and having a thickness variation in the width direction, is continuously transported in the wedge-shaped glass manufacturing apparatus 200 while being cut and inspected to form wedge-shaped glass product sections 11A and 11B.

[0060] Figure 3 The wedge glass manufacturing apparatus 200 shown includes a main transport path 201 and a secondary transport path 202 connected perpendicular to the main transport path 201. Additionally, the wedge glass manufacturing apparatus 200 may also include secondary transport paths other than the secondary transport path 202.

[0061] Glass plate 10 is made of Figure 3 The multiple transport rollers 210 shown are used for transport. The multiple transport rollers 210 are arranged at a certain interval along the length direction (direction A) of the glass sheet on the main transport path 201. On the other hand, they are arranged at a certain interval along the width direction (direction B) of the glass sheet 10 on the secondary transport path 202.

[0062] In the main conveying path 201, similarly to the first embodiment, a longitudinal cutter 220 forms longitudinal tangents L1 to L4 on the glass plate 10, a transverse cutter 230 forms a transverse tangent L5 on the glass plate 10, a transverse folding machine 240 cuts out a glass component 10P from the glass plate 10, and moves it to a conveying roller 211 whose length in the width direction is shorter than that of the conveying roller 210. A first longitudinal folding machine 250 cuts out a glass component 10Q without ears from the glass component 10P, and the ears 12A and 12B are removed from the conveying path as unwanted parts. The longitudinal cutter 220, transverse cutter 230, transverse folding machine 240, and first longitudinal folding machine 250 can be the same as the longitudinal cutter 120, transverse cutter 130, transverse folding machine 140, and first longitudinal folding machine 150 in the first embodiment.

[0063] <Second Vertical Folding Machine> The glass component 10Q without the ear is moved from the shorter transport roller 211 located on the main transport path 201 to the transport roller 210 located on the secondary transport path 202, and transported along the width direction. Moreover, the glass component 10Q without the ear is subjected to bending stress by the second longitudinal bending machine 260 and broken along the longitudinal tangents L3 and L4, thereby being separated into glass product parts 11A and 11B and a central part 13 as an unnecessary part.

[0064] The second longitudinal bending machine 260 is equipped with a pressing roller (not shown) that can move forward and backward along the thickness direction of the glass plate. The second longitudinal bending machine 260 presses the glass plate 10 from the underside of the glass member 10Q without ears using the pressing roller, applying bending stress along the width direction with longitudinal tangents L3 and L4 as the center, and breaking it along the longitudinal tangents L3 and L4. As a result, glass product parts 11A and 11B are cut from the glass member 10Q without ears.

[0065] The second longitudinal folding machine 260 can automatically control the timing of applying bending stress by the pressing roller.

[0066] <Separation Device> The separation device 170 described in the first embodiment may not be installed on the secondary transport path 202.

[0067] <Inspection Device> On the secondary transport path 202, the glass products sections 11A and 11B, transported by the transport rollers 210, utilize... Figure 3 The inspection device 280 shown detects the wedge angle at the management position X.

[0068] Figure 4B and Figure 4C This is a top view showing the wedge angle detection method at the management position X. Inspection device 280 as... Figure 4BThe device shown includes a plate thickness measuring device 281. The plate thickness measuring device measures the plate thickness along the width direction L6 of the glass product sections 11A and 11B, including the management position X. This allows for the measurement of the plate thickness. Figure 4C Using the thickness distribution curve shown, the thickness of the plate at management position Y and management position Z is determined. Through the above steps, the wedge angle at management position X of glass product sections 11A and 11B is calculated. By transporting glass product sections 11A and 11B along the width direction, the inspection device 280 can determine the plate thickness and calculate the wedge angle with a simpler structure than in the first embodiment.

[0069] <Control Device> The wedge angle at the management position X calculated by the inspection device 280 is transmitted to... Figure 3 The control device 290 is shown. The control device 290 controls the wedge glass manufacturing device 200 according to the trend of the transmitted wedge angle, thereby controlling the wedge angle at the management position X to be within a specified range from the difference between it and the ideal wedge angle at the pre-defined management position X.

[0070] Similar to the first embodiment, the control device 290 changes the position of each cutter 221 of the longitudinal cutter 220 in the width direction according to the trend of the wedge angle, thereby moving the position of the longitudinal cutting lines L1 to L4 in the width direction. In this way, the glass product portions 11A and 1B can be cut from the glass plate 10 at appropriate positions so that the wedge angle at the management position X is close to the ideal wedge angle.

[0071] The control device 290 preferably adjusts the position of the bending stress applied by the first longitudinal bending machine 250 and the second longitudinal bending machine 260 in the width direction according to the trend of the transmitted wedge angle or the position change of the longitudinal tangent. The position of the bending stress applied by the first longitudinal bending machine 250 in the width direction can be moved by adjusting the position of the pressing protrusion and support roller of the first longitudinal bending machine 250 in the width direction. The position of the bending stress applied by the second longitudinal bending machine 260 in the width direction can be moved by adjusting the timing of the application of the bending stress by the pressing roller of the second longitudinal bending machine 260. In this way, glass product portions 11A and 11B can be cut from appropriate positions on the glass plate 10 with higher precision.

[0072] [Wedge-shaped glass] The difference between the maximum and minimum thickness of the wedge-shaped glass manufactured by the manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is preferably 0.1 mm or more. If it is 0.1 mm or more, even when mounted on a car as a windshield with a large angle relative to the horizontal, ghosting can be suppressed when used as information display glass. The difference between the maximum and minimum thickness of the wedge-shaped glass can also be 0.3 mm or more, and even 0.5 mm or more. On the other hand, the difference between the maximum and minimum thickness of the wedge-shaped glass can be 1.5 mm or less, 1.2 mm or less, and even 1.0 mm or less. When using wedge-shaped glass as a car windshield, the optimal difference between the maximum and minimum thickness of the wedge-shaped glass is selected based on the installation angle of the windshield and the installation angle and position of the irradiator displaying information on the windshield.

[0073] The wedge-shaped glass manufactured by the manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention preferably has a maximum height Rz of the roughness curve of 25 mm as specified in JIS B0601:2001 at a length of 0.3 μm or less. If Rz is less than 0.3 μm, the view seen through the glass is less likely to be distorted when the flat glass is used as information display glass, and the reflected image when displaying information on the flat glass is less likely to be distorted. Here, the roughness curve is represented by the shape waveform. Rz is preferably less than 0.25 μm, and more preferably less than 0.2 μm.

[0074] The wedge-shaped glass manufactured by the manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the use of windshields for automobiles, but can also be used as windows for automobiles or trams or windshields for motorcycles; it can be any type of glass as long as it can display information. Furthermore, it is not limited to information display glass for vehicles, but can be used for various other types of information display glass. Moreover, it can also be used in various devices utilizing continuous changes in transmittance characteristics for applications other than information display. Example

[0075] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In a glass manufacturing apparatus having a main transport path and a secondary transport path perpendicular to the main transport path, wedge-shaped glass is manufactured from a convex-section glass sheet. A slitting machine, a transverse slitting machine, a transverse bending machine, and a first slitting machine are installed on the main transport path, while a second slitting machine and an inspection device are installed on the secondary transport path. The inspection device calculates the wedge angle at the management position X of the glass product section based on the thickness at management position Y, the thickness at management position Z, and the distance between management positions Y and Z in the width direction. Furthermore, the glass manufacturing apparatus includes a control device that, based on the wedge angle at management position X of the glass product section detected by the inspection device, controls the positions of the cutting blades of the slitting machine in the width direction, the positions of the pressing protrusions and support rollers of the first slitting machine in the width direction, and the timing of the application of bending stress by the pressing rollers of the second slitting machine.

[0076] The glass manufacturing apparatus has a conveying roller spacing of 150mm and a conveying speed of 1800m / h. Management positions Y, X, and Z are as follows: Figure 4C As shown, the glass components are arranged sequentially along the width from the side with the thinnest plate to the side with the thickest plate in the glass products section. Management position X is located at the midpoint between management positions Y and Z. Furthermore, management position X is located 17 inches (431.8 mm) wide from the end (L1 or L2) of the glass products section on the side with the thinnest plate. The ideal wedge angle δ at management position X is predetermined. i It is 0.36 mrad.

[0077] In Examples 1-7, the distance d between management positions Y and Z in the width direction is varied to detect the wedge angle δ at management position X of the glass product section during transport. Then, this wedge angle δ is compared with the actual wedge angle δ detected at management position X of the glass product section in a stopped state. r A comparison was made. Under the conditions of Examples 1 to 7, 20 glass parts were verified, and the difference between the wedge angle δ and the actual wedge angle δ of more than one glass part was δ - δ. r The absolute value greater than 0.1 mrad is denoted as ×. The difference between the wedge angle δ of all 20 glass products and the actual wedge angle δ is δ-δ. r If the absolute value is less than 0.1 mrad, it is marked as ○ and recorded in Table 1. ○ indicates that the wedge angle at the management position X of the glass products section during handling can be measured with high precision, while × indicates the opposite meaning.

[0078] Table 1 Example 1 25 × Example 2 50 ○ Example 3 100 ○ Example 4 150 ○ Example 5 200 ○ Example 6 250 ○ Example 7 300 ×

[0079] In Examples 1 and 7, when the distance d is less than 50 mm or greater than 250 mm, the δ-δ of one or more glass products... rThe absolute value is greater than 0.1 mrad. In Examples 2-6, the distance d satisfies a value between 100 mm and 250 mm, and the δ-δ of all 20 glass products... r The absolute values ​​are all below 0.1 mrad.

[0080] If the distance d between management position Y and management position Z in the width direction is more than 50mm and less than 200mm, then the wedge angle δ at management position X of the glass product section detected during handling is different from the actual wedge angle δ at management position X of the glass product section detected in the stopped state. r The difference is small, enabling high-precision inspection. Therefore, the control device can control the position of the slitting line formed by the slitting machine and the position of the bending stress applied by the folding machine based on the trend of the high-precision wedge angle transmitted from the inspection device, thus achieving high-precision control of the glass manufacturing apparatus.

[0081] Next, under the conditions of Example 4 in Table 1, the inspection device measures the wedge angle δ, and the control device controls the longitudinal cutting machine, the first longitudinal bending machine and the second longitudinal bending machine to continuously manufacture 100 glass products, which is Example 8.

[0082] On the other hand, 100 glass products were manufactured continuously without the control device controlling the slitting machine, the first folding machine and the second folding machine. The wedge angle δ was measured by the inspection device under the conditions of Example 4 in Table 1, and this was taken as Example 9.

[0083] In Example 8, among all 100 glass product sections, the wedge angle δ at the management position X of the manufactured glass product section is different from the ideal wedge angle δ at the pre-defined management position X. i The difference δ - δ (0.36 mrad) i The absolute values ​​are all below 0.1 mrad, which can keep the wedge angle δ within the specified range.

[0084] In Example 9, among the 100 pieces, 3 pieces in the glass manufacturing department have a wedge angle δ at the management position X that is different from the ideal wedge angle δ at the pre-defined management position X. i The difference δ - δ (0.36 mrad) i If the absolute value is greater than 0.1 mrad, the wedge angle δ cannot be kept within the specified range.

[0085] Based on the above, it can be confirmed that by controlling the slitting machine, the first folding machine, and the second folding machine according to the trend of the wedge angle δ detected by the inspection device, the wedge angle δ at the management position X of the manufactured glass product can be maintained at the ideal wedge angle δ at the pre-defined management position X. i The difference is within the prescribed range.

[0086] Furthermore, this application is based on Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-182124) filed on November 8, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Industrial utilization potential

[0087] According to the present invention, the wedge angle of the wedge-shaped glass cut from the glass plate can be made close to a predetermined target value, and wedge-shaped glass that can be used for various purposes can be obtained. Symbol Explanation

[0088] 10…convex glass plate, 11A…glass part of glass plate 10, 11B…glass part of glass plate 10, 12A…ear of glass plate 10, 12B…ear of glass plate 10, 13…central part of glass plate 10, 20…concave glass plate, 21A…glass part of glass plate 20, 21B…glass part of glass plate 20, 22A…ear of glass plate 20, 22B…ear of glass plate 20, 23…central part of glass plate 20, 30…conical glass plate Glass plate, 31…glass product section of glass plate 30, 32A…ear of glass plate 30, 32B…ear of glass plate 30, 100…wedge glass manufacturing apparatus, 110…transfer roller, 111…transfer roller shorter than transfer roller 110 in the width direction, 120…slitting machine, 121…cutter of slitting machine 120, 130…cross cutting machine, 131…cutter of cross cutting machine 130, 140…cross bending machine, 150…first longitudinal bending machine, 160…second longitudinal bending machine, 170…separation device, 180…inspection device, 1 81…Thickness measuring device, 182…Sensor, 190…Control device, 200…Wedge glass manufacturing device, 201…Main transport path, 202…Secondary transport path, 210…Transport roller, 211…Transport roller shorter than transport roller 210 in the width direction, 220…Longitudinal slicing machine, 221…Cutter of longitudinal slicing machine 220, 230…Cross-cutting machine, 231…Cutter of cross-cutting machine 230, 240…Cross-folding machine, 250…First longitudinal folding machine, 260…Second longitudinal folding machine, 280…Inspection device, 281…Thickness measuring device. 290… control device, L1… longitudinal tangent formed on the boundary between glass part 11A and ear part 12A, L2… longitudinal tangent formed on the boundary between glass part 11B and ear part 12B, L3… longitudinal tangent formed on the boundary between glass part 11A and central part 13, L4… longitudinal tangent formed on the boundary between glass part 11B and central part 13, L5… transverse tangent, L6… line in the width direction for measuring plate thickness by the inspection device, E1… one end of glass part 11A, E2… one end of glass part 11B.

Claims

1. Manufacturing method of wedge glass, While the glass sheet with varying thickness along its width is being transported by multiple conveying rollers... A longitudinal slitting machine is used to form longitudinal slits along the length of the glass fiber plate. A cross-cutting machine is used to form a cross-cutting line along the width direction of the glass sheet. A bending stress is applied to the glass sheet using a transverse bending machine to cut the glass sheet along the transverse tangent to form a glass component. A longitudinal bending machine is used to apply bending stress to the glass component, cutting it along the longitudinal tangent and removing unwanted portions to form a wedge-shaped glass product part. The wedge angle at the management position X of the glass product section is detected using an inspection device. Based on the wedge angle at the management position X, the position of the longitudinal cutting line formed by the longitudinal cutting machine in the width direction is controlled by changing the position of the cutter in the width direction, thereby controlling the wedge angle at the management position X to be within a specified range from the difference between it and the predetermined ideal wedge angle at the management position X.

2. The method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass as described in claim 1, wherein, The position of the bending stress applied by the longitudinal bending machine in the width direction is controlled according to the wedge angle at the management position X.

3. The method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, A separation device is provided between the conveying rollers for separating the glass product section and the unwanted section in the width direction. The position of the separation device is changed according to the wedge angle at the management position X.

4. The method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The wedge angle detected at the management position X while the glass product section is being moved is within ±0.1 mrad relative to the actual wedge angle detected at the management position X when the glass product section is stopped.

5. The method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The wedge angle detected at the management position X during the handling of the glass product section is calculated based on the thickness at the management position Y, which is moved from the management position X along the width direction, the thickness at the management position Z, which is moved from the management position X along the width direction opposite to the management position Y, and the distance between the management position Y and the management position Z in the width direction. The distance between the management position Y and the management position Z in the width direction is more than 50mm and less than 250mm.

6. The method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The management location X is located within the head-up display area.

7. The method for manufacturing wedge-shaped glass as described in claim 6, wherein, The wedge angle within the head-up display area is maintained between 0.20 mrad and 1.50 mrad.

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