Float glass production system, glass dewatering mechanism and cleaning device

Abstract

The utility model provides a float glass production system, a glass water removing mechanism and a cleaning device, the glass water removing mechanism comprises a water removing assembly and a water supplementing assembly, the water removing assembly is configured to rotate around the first axis of the water removing assembly, and the water removing assembly is provided with a water absorbing piece in the circumferential direction of the first axis; the water supplementing assembly is used for supplementing water to the water absorption piece so that the water absorption piece can be in a soft state. The glass water removing mechanism comprises the water removing assembly and the water supplementing assembly, the water absorbing pieces arranged in the circumferential direction are matched with rotation of the water removing assembly, the contact positions of the water absorbing pieces and the glass are changed in turn in the circumferential direction, and higher water removing efficiency is achieved; besides, water is supplemented to the water absorption piece through the water supplementing assembly, the water absorption piece can make full contact with the surface of the glass, and compared with a dry and hardened water absorption piece, the water on the surface of the glass can be rapidly and stably removed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of glass production, and more particularly relates to a float glass production system, a glass water removing mechanism and a cleaning device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Glass is widely used in building, automobile, decoration, electronics and other fields. In the glass production process, pollutants will be formed on the surface of the glass, so the glass needs to be cleaned. After the glass is cleaned with water, the water on the surface of the glass needs to be removed, but the current glass water removing method has the problem of low drying efficiency. CONTENT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a float glass production system, a glass water removing mechanism and a cleaning device to solve the technical problem of low drying efficiency in the prior art.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present application is to provide a glass water removing mechanism comprising:

[0005] A water removing assembly, the water removing assembly is configured to be rotatable about a first axis thereof, and the water removing assembly is provided with a water absorbing member along a circumference of the first axis;

[0006] A water supplementing assembly, the water supplementing assembly is used to supplement water to the water absorbing member so that the water absorbing member is in a soft state.

[0007] Optionally, the water supplementing assembly comprises a first tank, the first tank is used to contain water for soaking the water absorbing member, and the first tank is located on one side of the first axis;

[0008] The water absorbing member is partially located in the first tank and partially extends out of the first tank.

[0009] Optionally, the water removing assembly further comprises a first driving member and a one-way clutch, the first driving member is connected with the water removing assembly through the one-way clutch to drive the water removing assembly to rotate, the first driving member is configured to have the same rotating direction as the glass ribbon and to have a lower rotating speed than the glass ribbon.

[0010] Optionally, the material of the water absorbing member is sponge, fabric or non-woven material.

[0011] The present application also provides a glass cleaning device, the glass cleaning device comprising:

[0012] A glass cleaning mechanism, the glass cleaning mechanism is used to clean the glass;

[0013] A water supply mechanism, the water supply mechanism is used to supply water to the glass cleaning mechanism to clean the glass;

[0014] The aforementioned glass dewatering mechanism is used to remove residual moisture after cleaning glass.

[0015] Optionally, the glass cleaning system includes:

[0016] Cleaning assembly; the cleaning assembly is configured to rotate about its second axis, and the cleaning assembly has cleaning elements arranged circumferentially along the second axis;

[0017] The second tank is used to hold water for cleaning the cleaning components. The second tank is located on one side of the second axis, and the cleaning components are located inside the second tank and extend out of the second tank.

[0018] Optionally, the water supply mechanism includes a water circulation component and a heating component, wherein the water circulation component is used to circulate the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism, and the heating component is used to heat the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism.

[0019] Optionally, the water circulation component includes a water tank, a water supply pipeline, and a return pipeline. The water tank is connected to the water replenishment components of the glass cleaning mechanism and the glass dehydration mechanism through the water supply pipeline, and the water replenishment components of the glass cleaning mechanism and the glass dehydration mechanism are connected to the water tank through the return pipeline.

[0020] Optionally, a filter assembly is provided inside the water tank. The filter assembly includes a support net and a filter element. The support net is horizontally arranged on the water tank, and the filter element is arranged on the support net.

[0021] The connection between the water tank and the return pipe is located above the filter assembly, while the connection between the water tank and the supply pipe is located below the filter assembly.

[0022] This application also provides a float glass production system, which includes the glass dehydration mechanism or the glass cleaning device described above.

[0023] The beneficial effects of the float glass production system, glass dehydration mechanism, and cleaning device provided in this application are as follows: Compared with the prior art, the glass dehydration mechanism in the embodiments of this application includes a dehydration component and a water replenishment component. By using the water-absorbing element arranged circumferentially, and cooperating with the rotation of the dehydration component, the contact position between the water-absorbing element and the glass is changed alternately in the circumferential direction, resulting in higher dehydration efficiency. In addition, by replenishing water to the water-absorbing element through the water replenishment component, the water-absorbing element can fully contact the glass surface, and compared with the dry and hardened water-absorbing element, it can quickly and stably remove moisture from the glass surface. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the glass cleaning device in the embodiments of this application;

[0026] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning mechanism adjusted to the first position in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning mechanism being adjusted to the third position in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a frontal view of the water tank in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a top-view schematic diagram of the water tank in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the pipeline connection between the water tank, the glass cleaning mechanism, and the glass dewatering mechanism in the embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a top-view schematic diagram of the support net in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a lateral view of the support net in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 11 This is a side view of the filtering component in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] The reference numerals in the figures are as follows: conveying mechanism 1, cleaning mechanism 20; glass cleaning mechanism 2, cleaning component 21; second tank 22; second drive component 23; glass dewatering mechanism 3, dewatering component 31; water suction component 311; first tank 32; first drive component 33; glass 4; lifting component 5; rotation drive component 51; synchronous linkage 52; lifting component 53; walking component 6; first position detection mechanism 71; second position detection mechanism 72; third position detection mechanism 73; water tank 8, filter component 81; support net 811; filter component 812; water supply pipeline 82; return pipeline 83. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0038] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0039] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the mechanism or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0040] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0041] During the glass production process, contaminants form on the glass surface. Taking float glass production as an example, the annealing process generates a large amount of tin ash, sulfides, and impurities that adhere to the surface of the float glass, forming surface contaminants that significantly affect the product's surface quality, market competitiveness, and price. Furthermore, these surface contaminants, when passing through an online defect detector at the cold end, manifest as various defects, leading to misjudgments and unnecessary production losses. This drastically reduces the yield rate of the production line. Currently, with the market's continuously increasing demands for glass quality, there is a compelling need to improve the surface quality of glass products and increase the yield rate more efficiently, thereby enhancing product quality and customer aesthetics.

[0042] Therefore, glass cleaning equipment is needed to clean the produced glass. After cleaning, the glass also needs to be dried to remove surface moisture. Current methods for moisture removal mainly include natural drying, air drying, and adsorption with absorbent materials. Natural drying and air drying are the most common, but both methods suffer from low moisture removal efficiency.

[0043] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a glass dewatering mechanism 3 in its embodiments. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The glass dehydration mechanism 3 provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described. The glass dehydration mechanism 3 includes:

[0044] Water removal assembly 31; the water removal assembly 31 is configured to rotate about its first axis, and the water removal assembly 31 is provided with a water absorption element 311 circumferentially along the first axis;

[0045] Water replenishment component; The water replenishment component is used to replenish the water-absorbing component 311 with water so that the water-absorbing component 311 is in a soft state.

[0046] The water removal component 31 is the core part of the glass water removal mechanism 3, responsible for directly contacting the surface of the glass 4 to absorb and remove moisture. The water removal component 31 is configured to rotate around its first axis, and is circumferentially arranged along this axis, thereby changing the contact position between the absorbent component 311 and the glass 4 in the circumferential direction, allowing the absorbent component 311 to contact the glass 4 alternately around its circumference. This method has higher water removal efficiency compared to air drying and natural air drying methods. The absorbent component 311 needs to be in full contact with the surface of the glass 4 to ensure its full water absorption capacity; therefore, it is usually possible to press the absorbent component 311 against the surface of the glass 4 to absorb moisture. However, in practice, the applicant found that due to the high temperature during the production of the glass 4, the absorbent component 311 dries quickly after being wetted by moisture on the surface of the glass 4. The dried absorbent component 311 becomes hard and cannot make full contact with the surface of the glass 4, resulting in poor moisture removal from the glass 4 surface. Therefore, in this embodiment, the glass water removal mechanism 3 includes a water replenishment component for periodically or continuously replenishing the water-absorbing component 311 with water to keep it soft. Although the water-absorbing component 311 appears to be wet, it can make the water-absorbing component 311 fully contact the surface of the glass 4. Compared with the dry and hardened water-absorbing component 311, it can remove the moisture from the surface of the glass 4 quickly and stably.

[0047] Please see Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, the water replenishment component includes a first tank 32 for holding water that soaks the water-absorbing component 311. The first tank 32 is located on one side of the first axis. The water-absorbing component 311 is partially located inside the first tank 32 and partially extends out of the first tank 32.

[0048] The function of the water replenishment component is to keep the absorbent component 311 moist, thereby maintaining its softness. In this embodiment, the main function of the first tank 32 is to serve as a water storage container, holding the water used to soak the absorbent component 311. It is located on one side of the first axis, thus allowing the water replenishment component to be arranged laterally within the first tank 32.

[0049] The water-absorbing component 311 is partially located within and extends beyond the first groove 32. The portion of the water-absorbing component 311 extending beyond the first groove 32 can contact the surface of the glass 4 to remove moisture from it, while the portion located within the first groove 32 is immersed in it. With the rotation of the water-removing assembly 31, the portion of the water-absorbing component 311 extending beyond the first groove 32 and the portion located within the first groove 32 can continuously alternate, ensuring that the component remains soft throughout and thus maintains full contact with the surface of the glass 4. The number of water-absorbing components 311 and corresponding first grooves 32 can be one or more. Figure 2The embodiment shown employs a set of water-absorbing components 311 and a first tank 32.

[0050] Since the first tank 32 needs to be filled with water, its opening is usually located above the first tank 32, meaning the water-absorbing element 311 extends from above the first tank 32. Therefore, this embodiment is more suitable for removing moisture from the bottom surface of the glass 4. In the float glass production process, contaminants are usually located on the bottom surface of the glass 4, meaning that the cleaned glass 4 needs to have its bottom surface dehydrated, and this embodiment is precisely suitable for removing moisture from the bottom surface of the glass 4.

[0051] Please see Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, the water removal assembly 31 further includes a first driving member 33 and a one-way clutch. The first driving member 33 is connected to the water removal assembly 31 through the one-way clutch to drive the water removal assembly 31 to rotate. The first driving member is configured to drive the water removal assembly 31 to rotate in the same direction as the direction in which the glass 4 drives the water removal assembly 31 to rotate, and the speed at which the first driving member drives the water removal assembly 31 to rotate is less than the speed at which the glass 4 drives the water removal assembly 31 to rotate.

[0052] The rotation of the water-removing component 31 can be driven by the conveying of the glass 4 or by a drive mechanism. Since the water-removing component 31 is not always in contact with the glass 4, it is difficult to rotate it through the glass 4 when it is not in contact. If the water-removing component 31 does not rotate, during this process, part of the water-absorbing component 311 will always be immersed, while part will always be dehydrated. This will cause uneven circumferential distribution of the water-absorbing component 311, resulting in deformation and uneven weight distribution, thus failing to guarantee the water absorption effect.

[0053] In this embodiment, the dewatering assembly 31 further includes a first driving member 33 and a one-way clutch. The first driving member 33 is connected to the dewatering assembly 31 via the one-way clutch to drive the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate. When the dewatering assembly 31 is not in contact with the glass 4, the first driving member 33 transmits rotational power to the one-way clutch via an output shaft or transmission device, thereby driving the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate. This rotation allows the water-absorbing members 311 to be alternately immersed in the first tank 32 in the circumferential direction, ensuring the uniformity of the water-absorbing members 311 in the circumferential direction. When the dewatering assembly 31 comes into contact with the glass 4 to remove water, the glass 4 can drive the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate. Since the direction in which the first driving member drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate is the same as the direction in which the glass 4 drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate, and the speed at which the first driving member drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate is less than the speed at which the glass 4 drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate. Therefore, under the action of the one-way clutch, the water removal assembly 31 can disengage from the drive of the first drive unit 33 and rotate by the glass 4. The first drive unit 33 can be a geared motor, servo motor, hydraulic motor, or other components. The one-way clutch can be a ratchet-type one-way clutch, a roller-type one-way clutch, or other similar components.

[0054] In other embodiments of this application, the water replenishment component may also use a pipe to directly deliver water to the water absorption component 311, or use drip irrigation or other methods to provide water to the water absorption component 311.

[0055] In some embodiments of this application, the absorbent component 311 is made of sponge, fabric, or non-woven material. The main function of the absorbent component 311 is to contact the surface of the glass 4 to absorb moisture from it. Simultaneously, the absorbent component 311 obtains moisture from the water replenishment component, keeping it soft and thus ensuring sufficient pressure contact with the surface of the glass 4. In this embodiment, the absorbent component 311 is made of sponge, fabric, or non-woven material, etc., wherein, for example... Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the absorbent element 311 is a sponge.

[0056] Based on the above-mentioned water removal mechanism, this application also provides a glass cleaning device, which includes:

[0057] Glass cleaning unit 2; Glass cleaning unit 2 is used for cleaning glass;

[0058] Water supply system; The water supply system is used to supply water to the glass cleaning unit 2 for cleaning the glass;

[0059] The glass dewatering mechanism 3 in the above embodiments is used to remove residual moisture after cleaning the glass.

[0060] In this embodiment, the device mainly includes a glass cleaning mechanism 2, a water supply mechanism, and a glass dewatering mechanism 3. The glass cleaning mechanism 2 is responsible for removing stains and dust from the surface of the glass 4, the water supply mechanism provides the necessary water to the glass cleaning mechanism 2, and the glass dewatering mechanism 3 is responsible for removing residual water after cleaning, ensuring that the surface of the glass 4 is dry and clean. In this embodiment, the glass dewatering mechanism 3 includes a water replenishment component for periodically or continuously replenishing water to the absorbent component 311 to keep it soft, so that the absorbent component 311 can fully contact the surface of the glass 4 and absorb water quickly and stably.

[0061] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 In some embodiments of this application, the glass cleaning mechanism 2 includes:

[0062] Cleaning assembly 21; the cleaning assembly 21 is configured to rotate about its second axis, and the cleaning assembly 21 has cleaning elements arranged circumferentially along the second axis;

[0063] The second tank 22 is used to hold water for cleaning the cleaning components. The second tank 22 is located on one side of the second axis, and the cleaning components are located inside the second tank 22 and extend out of the second tank 22.

[0064] In this embodiment, the glass cleaning mechanism 2 mainly includes a cleaning assembly 21 and a second tank 22. The cleaning assembly 21 is rotatable and has cleaning components arranged circumferentially on it for direct contact and cleaning of the glass 4 surface. The cleaning assembly 21 can adopt various structures, such as cylindrical brush heads, disc-shaped wiping pads, etc. These structures all rotate along their second axis. The cleaning components can be bristles, sponges, cloths, or other soft and abrasion-resistant materials, which are arranged circumferentially along the second axis of the cleaning assembly 21 to form a circumferential cleaning structure.

[0065] The second tank 22 is used to hold the water required for cleaning the cleaning components, ensuring that the components remain moist and effective during the cleaning process. Detergents can be added to the water in the second tank 22 to ensure cleaning efficiency. The second tank 22 is located on one side of the second axis, allowing the cleaning assembly to be arranged laterally within the first tank 32. The cleaning component is partially located within the second tank 22 and partially extends out of it. The portion of the cleaning assembly 21 extending out of the second tank 22 can contact the surface of the glass 4 to clean it, while the portion located within the second tank 22 is immersed in the water to remove contaminants. Rotation of the cleaning assembly 21 allows the portion extending out of the second tank 22 to alternate with the portion located within the second tank 22. There can be one or more cleaning components and corresponding second tanks 22. Figure 3The embodiment shown employs two sets of cleaning components arranged front and rear, both located within the same second tank 22. The cleaning component 21 uses a brush roller, driven by a second drive unit 23. The second drive unit 23 can be a geared motor or similar structure. The brush roller can be configured as a counter-rotating brush, moving in the opposite direction to the glass 4. The lower part of the brush roller is immersed in the cleaning water tank, and the brush, carrying hot water, counter-rotates on the lower surface of the glass 4, effectively cleaning contaminants adhering to the glass into the water tank.

[0066] Since the second tank 22 needs to be filled with water, its opening is usually located above the second tank 22, meaning the cleaning assembly 21 extends from above the second tank 22. Therefore, this embodiment is more suitable for cleaning contaminants on the bottom surface of the glass 4. In float glass production, contaminants are usually located on the bottom surface of the glass 4, and this embodiment is well-suited for this scenario.

[0067] In some embodiments of this application, the water supply mechanism includes a water circulation component and a heating component. The water circulation component is used to circulate the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism 2, and the heating component is used to heat the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism 2.

[0068] The glass 4 produced by the glass production system is typically at a high temperature. Supplying room-temperature water to the glass cleaning unit 2 to clean the glass 4 could lead to excessive temperature difference between the water and the glass, potentially causing the glass to shatter. Therefore, in this embodiment, the water supply mechanism includes a heating element responsible for heating the water supplied to the glass cleaning unit 2 to a preset temperature. The heating element can be electrically heated, such as with heating wires or heating rods, or it can be fuel-heated. Heating the water supplied to the glass cleaning unit 2 reduces the temperature difference between the water and the glass 4, thus preventing shattering. The heating element allows for adjustments to the heating temperature as needed, maintaining a constant set temperature to ensure stable cleaning.

[0069] Because the surface temperature of glass 4 is higher than the cleaning water temperature, after stable production, and with the water circulation component used to circulate the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism 2, the glass plate can continuously replenish the water in the water tank, ensuring that the temperature of the circulated water does not drop. At this point, the heating component can be stopped to achieve the purpose of energy saving.

[0070] Please see Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments of this application, the water circulation component includes a water tank 8, a water supply pipe 82, and a return pipe 83. The water tank 8 is connected to the water replenishment components of the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and the glass dewatering mechanism 3 through the water supply pipe 82. The water replenishment components of the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and the glass dewatering mechanism 3 are connected to the water tank 8 through the return pipe 83.

[0071] In this embodiment, the water circulation component includes a water tank 8, a water supply pipe 82, and a return pipe 83. The water tank 8 stores cleaning water, providing a stable water source for the entire system. It is typically designed with sufficient capacity to ensure continuous operation for a period of time without frequent refills. The water supply pipe 82 is responsible for delivering water from the water tank 8 to the water replenishment components of the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and the glass dehydration mechanism 3. The water supply pipe 82 can be connected to the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and the glass dehydration mechanism 3 via a T-junction. The return pipe 83 is responsible for collecting the water used during the cleaning and dehydration of the glass 4 and returning it to the water tank 8 for recycling. The water circulation component can be powered by a water pump, gravity, pressure, or other methods. For example, if the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and the glass dehydration mechanism 3 are located higher than the water tank 8, a water pump can be installed on the water supply pipe 82, while the return pipe 83 relies on gravity for power. The first tank 32 and the second tank 22 can also be equipped with a return flow interface, an overflow interface and a water supply interface, respectively. By adjusting the valve opening on the water supply pipeline 82 and the return flow of each overflow pipe, the water level of the two tanks can be controlled at a reasonable height required by the process.

[0072] The heating element can typically be installed in the water supply line 82 or the water tank 8. For example... Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the heating component is housed in the water tank 8, and an electric heating interface is provided on the side wall of the water tank 8. Furthermore, insulation materials such as polyurethane can be installed on the water tank 8 to prevent heat loss. An automatic water replenishment mechanism can also be installed in the water tank 8 to maintain sufficient water levels to meet demand.

[0073] Please see Figures 6 to 11 In some embodiments of this application, a filter assembly 81 is provided inside the water tank 8. The filter assembly 81 includes a support net 811 and a filter element 812. The support net 811 is horizontally disposed on the water tank 8, and the filter element 812 is disposed on the support net 811. The connection between the water tank 8 and the return pipe 83 is located above the filter assembly 81, and the connection between the water tank 8 and the water supply pipe 82 is located below the filter assembly 81.

[0074] To ensure the cleanliness of the circulating water, a filter assembly 81 can be installed in the water circulation system. In this embodiment, the filter assembly 81 is installed inside the water tank 8, and includes a support mesh 811 and a filter element 812. The support mesh 811 is located inside the water tank 8, horizontally positioned, and mainly serves to support the filter element 812. The support mesh 811 is typically made of metal mesh, for example... Figure 9 and 10 In the illustrated embodiment, an 80-mesh stainless steel wire mesh is used. The filter element 812 is the core component of the filter assembly 81, responsible for trapping impurities and particulate matter in the water. The filter element 812 can be made of filter cotton, bio-cotton, etc. Figure 11In the illustrated embodiment, the filter element 812 is a high-density filter cotton blanket. A support net 811 is horizontally positioned on the water tank 8, and the filter element 812 is mounted on the support net 811, allowing for easy replacement of the filter element 812 and improving filtration efficiency. The horizontally positioned filter assembly 81 divides the water tank 8 into upper and lower spaces. The connection between the water tank 8 and the return pipe 83 is located above the filter assembly 81, allowing the return water to be filtered by the filter assembly 81. The connection between the water tank 8 and the water supply pipe 82 is located below the filter assembly 81, thus delivering the filtered water to the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and the glass dewatering mechanism 3 via the water supply pipe 82.

[0075] This application also provides a float glass production system, which includes the glass dewatering mechanism 3 or glass cleaning device described in the above embodiments. Because the float glass production system employs the aforementioned glass dewatering mechanism 3, the absorbent element 311 remains soft, allowing it to fully contact the glass surface 4 and quickly and stably remove moisture from the glass surface. In particular, since the contaminants on the glass 4 produced by the float glass production system are mainly located on its bottom surface, this system is especially suitable for embodiments where the dewatering component 31 is used in conjunction with the first tank 32, and embodiments where the cleaning component 21 is used in conjunction with the second tank 22.

[0076] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the glass cleaning apparatus includes:

[0077] Conveying mechanism 1; Conveying mechanism 1 is used to convey glass 4;

[0078] Cleaning mechanism 20; Cleaning mechanism 20 has a first position, and cleaning mechanism 20 is configured to clean the glass 4 conveyed on conveying mechanism 1 in the first position;

[0079] Adjustment mechanism; The adjustment mechanism is connected to the cleaning mechanism 20. In the event of glass shattering, the adjustment mechanism is used to drive the cleaning mechanism 20 away from the first position.

[0080] In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 1 is responsible for conveying the glass 4 to be cleaned, allowing the glass 4 to pass through the first position of the cleaning mechanism 20, thereby cleaning the glass 4 conveyed on the conveying mechanism 1 through the cleaning mechanism 20. The conveying mechanism 1 can be a roller conveyor, chain conveyor, or other structures. The cleaning mechanism 20 is responsible for cleaning the glass 4, and the cleaning mechanism 20 has a first position, which is the position where the cleaning mechanism 20 cleans the glass 4. The cleaning mechanism 20 can be a brush, roller, or other specific structures. In addition to the components that directly perform the cleaning function, the cleaning mechanism 20 may also include other auxiliary structures such as those for removing moisture from the surface of the glass 4.

[0081] The adjusting mechanism is connected to the cleaning mechanism 20. In the event of a glass shattering, the adjusting mechanism can drive the cleaning mechanism 20 away from the initial cleaning position to prevent glass shards from cutting the cleaning mechanism 20 or exacerbating the damage to the glass 4. The adjusting mechanism can employ a cylinder, electric push rod, motor, or other similar structure to move the cleaning mechanism 20.

[0082] When the glass cleaning device is in operation, the conveying mechanism 1 first transports the glass to be cleaned to the first position. Then, the cleaning mechanism 20 begins to clean the surface of the glass 4. If glass shards break during the cleaning process, the cleaning mechanism 20 can be manually or automatically moved away from the first position via an adjustment mechanism to prevent further damage to the cleaning mechanism 20 and the glass. After the problem is resolved, the cleaning mechanism 20 can be returned to the first position to continue cleaning. After cleaning is complete, the conveying mechanism 1 transports the glass to the output end, completing the entire cleaning process. Furthermore, the device in this embodiment can achieve online production of high-purity glass sheets, improving customer aesthetics and avoiding unnecessary production losses caused by misjudgments of surface contaminants by defect detectors.

[0083] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, the glass cleaning device includes a first position detection mechanism 71, which is used to detect whether the cleaning mechanism 20 is in a first position. Since the cleaning mechanism 20 cleans the glass in the first position, it is crucial to determine whether the cleaning mechanism 20 has accurately reached the first position. The first position detection mechanism 71 can use detection elements such as photoelectric sensors, proximity sensors, and limit switches to detect the position of the cleaning mechanism 20.

[0084] During normal glass cleaning, the first position detection mechanism 71 can detect whether the cleaning mechanism 20 has reached the first position. If the cleaning mechanism 20 deviates from the first position, it may not be able to properly contact the glass surface 4, resulting in poor cleaning or damage to the glass. Cleaning of the glass is only initiated after the cleaning mechanism 20 reaches the first position. In the event of a glass breakage, the adjustment mechanism will drive the cleaning mechanism 20 away from the first position. The first position detection mechanism 71 can confirm that the cleaning mechanism 20 has left the first position, thereby preventing it from being cut by the glass or causing further damage from the breakage.

[0085] In some embodiments of this application, the glass cleaning device further includes a glass breakage detection mechanism, which is used to monitor whether the glass on the conveying mechanism 1 breaks; if the glass breakage detection mechanism detects that the glass has broken, the adjusting mechanism drives the cleaning mechanism 20 to leave the first position.

[0086] The main function of the glass shattering monitoring mechanism is to promptly detect and respond to glass shattering incidents. When the monitoring mechanism detects a shattered glass, it can immediately control the adjusting mechanism to drive the cleaning mechanism 20 away from its initial position, thereby further reducing the possibility of the cleaning mechanism 20 colliding with or being damaged by glass fragments. Compared to manual detection of shattered glass, this method offers a much faster response time. The glass shattering monitoring mechanism can employ automated visual inspection, ultrasonic inspection, laser inspection, and other methods.

[0087] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning mechanism 20 has a second position; when the glass shattering detection mechanism detects that the glass is shattered, the adjustment mechanism drives the cleaning mechanism 20 to move to the second position; the glass cleaning device includes a second position detection mechanism 72, which is used to detect whether the cleaning mechanism 20 is in the second position.

[0088] In glass cleaning equipment, the cleaning mechanism 20, in addition to its primary position for cleaning operations, is typically designed with a secondary position. The secondary position is the safe position that the cleaning mechanism 20 needs to move to in the event of glass breakage. When the breakage detection mechanism detects glass breakage, the adjusting mechanism responds quickly, driving the cleaning mechanism 20 from the primary position to the secondary position to avoid direct contact with glass fragments, thereby protecting the cleaning mechanism 20 from damage and ensuring safe production.

[0089] The main function of the second position detection mechanism 72 is to detect whether the cleaning mechanism 20 has accurately moved to the second position. The second position detection mechanism 72 can employ detection elements such as photoelectric sensors, proximity sensors, and limit switches. When the cleaning mechanism 20 is driven to the second position, the second position detection mechanism 72 sends a signal to the control system to confirm that the cleaning mechanism 20 has reached a safe position. In this way, the control system knows that the cleaning mechanism 20 is in a safe state and will not collide with the glass, thus allowing it to take further safety measures or resume the cleaning operation.

[0090] In the glass cleaning device, when the glass breakage detection mechanism detects a glass breakage, it sends a command to the adjustment mechanism, driving the cleaning mechanism 20 to move from a first position to a second position. Simultaneously, the second position detection mechanism 72 monitors the position of the cleaning mechanism 20 in real time. When the cleaning mechanism 20 reaches the second position, the second position detection mechanism 72 sends a signal to the control system to confirm that the cleaning mechanism 20 is in a safe state. At this point, the control system can take further safety measures or resume the cleaning operation as needed.

[0091] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning mechanism 20 is disposed below the conveying mechanism 1; the adjusting mechanism includes a lifting assembly 5, the cleaning mechanism 20 is disposed on the lifting assembly 5, and the lifting assembly 5 is used to drive the cleaning mechanism 20 to descend to leave the first position.

[0092] In glass cleaning equipment, glass is typically conveyed horizontally. Therefore, to clean the glass, the cleaning mechanism 20 is usually positioned above and / or below the conveying mechanism 1. During float glass production, contaminants are usually located primarily on the bottom surface of the glass. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cleaning mechanism 20 is positioned below the conveying mechanism 1 to clean the bottom surface of the glass.

[0093] To protect the cleaning mechanism 20 from broken glass in the event of a glass shattering, the adjustment mechanism of this embodiment includes a lifting assembly 5. The lifting assembly 5 can be a pneumatic lifting column, an electric push rod, a hydraulic lifting system, a screw jack, etc. When the glass shattering detection mechanism detects a glass shattering, the lifting assembly 5 responds quickly, driving the cleaning mechanism 20 to descend and move away from the first position. In this way, even if the glass shatters, the cleaning mechanism 20 will not come into direct contact with glass fragments, thus avoiding damage to the cleaning mechanism 20 and potential safety risks. Furthermore, the lifting assembly 5 itself can provide support for the cleaning mechanism 20, keeping it in either the first or second position.

[0094] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning mechanism 20 has a third position, and the first position is higher than the third position; when the cleaning mechanism 20 needs maintenance, the lifting component 5 drives the cleaning mechanism 20 to descend to the third position.

[0095] In this embodiment, in addition to a first position for performing cleaning operations and a second position for avoiding contact with the shattered glass, the cleaning mechanism 20 is also designed with a third position. The third position can serve as a maintenance position for the cleaning mechanism 20. Since the third position is lower than the first position, when maintenance is required, the cleaning mechanism 20 can be lowered to the third position via the lifting assembly 5, thus freeing up sufficient space for maintenance. Similarly, a third position detection mechanism 73 can be provided to detect whether the cleaning mechanism 20 is in the third position.

[0096] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments of this application, the adjustment mechanism further includes a walking component 6, and a lifting component 5 is disposed on the walking component 6 so that the walking component 6 can drive the lifting component 5 and the cleaning mechanism 20 thereon to move.

[0097] Although lowering the cleaning mechanism 20 to the third position allows for some maintenance, the cleaning mechanism 20 is still below the conveying mechanism 1, resulting in insufficient space for simple repairs. In this embodiment, the adjustment mechanism also includes a walking component 6, with a lifting component 5 mounted on it. The walking component 6 can drive the lifting component 5 and the cleaning mechanism 20 on it to move. The walking component 6 can employ common walking methods such as roller walking or sliding walking. However, it is important to note that the cleaning mechanism 20 is usually lowered to the third position using the lifting component 5 before moving the walking component 6 to prevent collisions between the cleaning mechanism 20 and the conveying mechanism 1. The walking component 6 allows the cleaning mechanism 20 to be moved out from under the conveying mechanism 1, enabling maintenance in an open area or specific maintenance location. This includes tasks such as cleaning broken glass from the water tank and cleaning and maintaining the cleaning component 21 and the water removal component 31. This avoids the problem of fixed installations preventing easy removal for thorough offline cleaning and maintenance, which compromises cleaning quality.

[0098] The third position can be the same as or a different position from the second position. In most cases, the descent of the cleaning mechanism 20 to a point where it does not contact the glass is less than the descent required for maintenance. Therefore, if... Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the third position is below the second position, while the first position is above the second position, that is, the first, second and third positions are arranged from top to bottom.

[0099] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments of this application, the lifting assembly 5 includes a rotary drive 51, a synchronous link 52, and a plurality of lifting components 53. The plurality of lifting components 53 are arranged horizontally and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 1. The rotary drive 51 is connected to the plurality of lifting components 53 through the synchronous link 52 to drive the plurality of lifting components 53 to lift and lower synchronously.

[0100] In addition to driving the cleaning mechanism 20 to rise and fall, the lifting assembly 5 also provides support for the cleaning mechanism 20. In this embodiment, there are multiple lifting components 53, that is, the specific number of lifting components 53 can be two or more. The multiple lifting components 53 are arranged horizontally and perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism 1, so that the multiple lifting components 53 can support the cleaning mechanism 20 laterally along the glass plate, thereby ensuring the stability of the movement of the cleaning mechanism 20.

[0101] The lifting assembly 5 includes a rotary drive 51, a synchronous connecting rod 52, and multiple lifting components 53. The rotary drive 51 serves as the power source for the lifting assembly 5. The rotary drive 51 generates power through rotation, which in turn drives the synchronous connecting rod 52 to move the lifting components 53. The synchronous connecting rod 52 transmits the power from the rotary drive 51 to the multiple lifting components 53, ensuring their synchronized lifting. The rotary drive 51 can be a geared motor, servo motor, hydraulic motor, or similar components. The synchronous connecting rod 52 typically uses a worm gear or similar transmission method to connect the lifting components 53, thus ensuring the lifting of the lifting components 53. Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, the lifting component 53 is a screw jack, which can achieve stable and reliable lifting of the cleaning mechanism 20.

[0102] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning mechanism 20 includes a glass cleaning mechanism 2 and a glass dewatering mechanism 3. The glass cleaning mechanism 2 is used to clean the glass, and the dewatering mechanism is used to remove moisture from the surface of the cleaned glass 4. The adjustment mechanism includes a first adjustment mechanism and a second adjustment mechanism. The first adjustment mechanism is connected to the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and is used to drive the glass cleaning mechanism 2 away from a first position. The second adjustment mechanism is connected to the dewatering mechanism and is used to drive the dewatering mechanism away from the first position.

[0103] In this embodiment, the cleaning mechanism 20 includes a glass cleaning mechanism 2 and a glass dewatering mechanism 3. The glass cleaning mechanism 2 is used to clean the glass and ensure the cleaning effect; the dewatering mechanism is used to remove the moisture from the surface of the cleaned glass 4, so that the glass is dry and easy to store and transport.

[0104] The glass cleaning mechanism 2 and the glass dewatering mechanism 3 are mounted on the same adjusting mechanism. However, considering the load-bearing capacity and ease of movement of the cleaning mechanism 20, in this embodiment, the first adjusting mechanism is connected to the glass cleaning mechanism 2 and is used to drive the glass cleaning mechanism 2; while the second adjusting mechanism is connected to the dewatering mechanism and is used to drive the dewatering mechanism. The specific structures of the first and second adjusting mechanisms can refer to the aforementioned adjusting mechanism.

[0105] Based on the above-mentioned glass cleaning device, this application also provides a glass cleaning method, which includes:

[0106] Water is supplied to the glass cleaning unit 2 through a water supply system, thereby ensuring that the glass cleaning unit 2 can perform its cleaning function normally. The water supply system can be the circulating water system mentioned above.

[0107] The glass is cleaned using glass cleaning unit 2;

[0108] The water removal mechanism removes moisture from the surface of the cleaned glass 4, including: the cleaned glass is pressed into contact with the water-absorbing component 311 to ensure sufficient contact between the water-absorbing component 311 and the glass; the water removal assembly 31 rotates around the first axis to change the contact point between the water-absorbing component 311 and the glass, so that the water-absorbing component 311 can contact the glass in turn for one revolution.

[0109] The water replenishment component adds water to the water-absorbing component 311 so that the water-absorbing component 311 is in a soft state, which allows the water-absorbing component 311 to fully contact the surface of the glass 4, thereby quickly and stably removing moisture from the surface of the glass 4.

[0110] In some embodiments of this application, the glass cleaning method further includes: when the water on the surface of the cleaned glass 4 is removed by the glass dewatering mechanism 3, the dewatering assembly 31 is rotated by the glass to change the position of the water-absorbing member 311 immersed in the first tank 32; when the water on the surface of the cleaned glass 4 is not removed by the glass dewatering mechanism, the dewatering assembly 31 is rotated by the driving mechanism of the dewatering assembly 31 to change the position of the water-absorbing member 311 immersed in the first tank 32.

[0111] The rotation of the dewatering component 31 can be driven by the glass conveyor or by a drive mechanism. Since the dewatering component 31 is not always in contact with the glass, it is difficult to rotate it via the glass when it is not in contact. If the dewatering component 31 does not rotate, during this process, part of the absorbent element 311 will always be immersed, while part will always be dehydrated. This will cause uneven circumferential distribution of the absorbent element 311, leading to deformation and uneven weight distribution, thus failing to guarantee the water absorption effect. In this embodiment, when removing water from the surface of the cleaned glass 4 by the glass dewatering mechanism 3, the dewatering component 31 is rotated via the glass, causing the absorbent element 311 to change its position immersed in the first tank 32. Driving the dewatering component 31 to rotate when it is not in contact with the glass allows the absorbent element 311 to be alternately immersed in the first tank 32 circumferentially. That is, the absorbent element 311 can rotate regardless of whether it is in working condition, ensuring the circumferential uniformity of the absorbent element 311.

[0112] In some embodiments, the dewatering assembly 31 further includes a driving member and a one-way clutch. The driving member is connected to the dewatering assembly 31 via the one-way clutch to drive the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate. When the dewatering assembly 31 is not in contact with the glass, the driving member transmits rotational power to the one-way clutch via an output shaft or transmission device, thereby driving the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate. When the dewatering assembly 31 is in contact with the glass to remove water, the glass can drive the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate. Since the direction in which the first driving member drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate is the same as the direction in which the glass drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate, and the speed at which the first driving member drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate is less than the speed at which the glass drives the dewatering assembly 31 to rotate, under the action of the one-way clutch, the dewatering assembly 31 can disengage from the driving member and rotate solely under the influence of the glass. Even if the first driving member is not working, it will not affect the rotation of the dewatering assembly 31 under the influence of the glass.

[0113] In some embodiments of this application, after removing the moisture from the surface of the cleaned glass 4 by the glass dehydration mechanism, the glass cleaning method further includes: drying the glass using the residual heat of the glass.

[0114] Because the wet absorbent component 311 is used to press against the glass to absorb water, a very small amount of moisture may remain on the surface of the glass 4. In this embodiment, after the moisture on the surface of the cleaned glass 4 is removed by the glass dehydration mechanism, the residual heat of the glass is used to dry the glass. The residual heat of the glass is sufficient to evaporate these very small amounts of water, avoiding the need to use a separate fan for drying, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing costs.

[0115] In some embodiments of this application, the glass cleaning method further includes: supplying water to the glass cleaning mechanism 2 through the water circulation component of the water supply mechanism, and heating the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism 2 through the heating component until the water temperature of the glass cleaning mechanism 2 reaches a preset temperature, and then turning off the heating component, so that the water in the glass cleaning mechanism 2 is heated by the heat of the glass.

[0116] The glass produced by the glass production system is typically at a high temperature. Supplying room-temperature water to the glass cleaning unit 2 for cleaning can lead to excessive temperature difference between the water and the glass, potentially causing the glass to shatter. Therefore, in this embodiment, a heating element heats the water supplied to the glass cleaning unit 2 until it reaches a preset temperature. Heating the water reduces the temperature difference between the water and the glass, thus preventing shattering. The heating element allows for real-time temperature adjustment according to process requirements and maintains a constant set temperature, ensuring stable cleaning.

[0117] Because the temperature of the glass plate is higher than that of the cleaning water, after the production stabilizes, and with the water circulation component used to circulate the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism 2, the glass plate can continuously replenish the heat to the water in the glass cleaning mechanism 2, ensuring that the temperature of the circulated water does not drop. At this point, the heating component can be stopped to achieve the purpose of energy saving.

[0118] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A glass dewatering mechanism, characterized in that, The glass dehydration mechanism includes: A water removal assembly; the water removal assembly is configured to rotate about its first axis, and the water removal assembly is provided with a water-absorbing element circumferentially along the first axis; A water replenishment component; the water replenishment component is used to replenish the water-absorbing element with moisture so that the water-absorbing element is in a soft state.

2. The glass dehydration mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water replenishment component includes a first tank for holding water that soaks the water-absorbing element, and the first tank is located on one side of the first axis. The water-absorbing part is located within the first tank, and the water-absorbing part extends out of the first tank.

3. The glass dehydration mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The water removal assembly further includes a first driving component and a one-way clutch component. The first driving component is connected to the water removal assembly through the one-way clutch component to drive the water removal assembly to rotate. The first driving member is configured to drive the water removal assembly to rotate in the same direction as the glass drives the water removal assembly to rotate, and the speed at which the first driving member drives the water removal assembly to rotate is less than the speed at which the glass drives the water removal assembly to rotate.

4. The glass dewatering mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The absorbent material is a sponge, fabric, or non-woven material.

5. A glass cleaning device, characterized in that, The glass cleaning device includes: Glass cleaning unit; the glass cleaning unit is used for cleaning glass; Water supply mechanism; the water supply mechanism is used to supply water to the glass cleaning mechanism for cleaning the glass; The glass dewatering mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-4; the glass dewatering mechanism is used to remove residual moisture after cleaning the glass.

6. The glass cleaning apparatus as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The glass cleaning mechanism includes: A cleaning assembly; the cleaning assembly is configured to rotate about its second axis, and the cleaning assembly has cleaning elements arranged circumferentially along the second axis; The second tank is used to hold water for cleaning the cleaning component. The second tank is located on one side of the second axis, and the cleaning component is partially located in the second tank and extends out of the second tank.

7. The glass cleaning apparatus as described in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The water supply mechanism includes a water circulation component and a heating component. The water circulation component is used to circulate the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism, and the heating component is used to heat the water supplied to the glass cleaning mechanism.

8. The glass cleaning apparatus as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The water circulation assembly includes a water tank, a water supply pipeline, and a return pipeline. The water tank is connected to the water replenishment components of the glass cleaning mechanism and the glass dehydration mechanism through the water supply pipeline. The water replenishment components of the glass cleaning mechanism and the glass dehydration mechanism are connected to the water tank through the return pipeline.

9. The glass cleaning apparatus as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The water tank is equipped with a filter assembly, which includes a support net and a filter element. The support net is horizontally arranged on the water tank, and the filter element is arranged on the support net. The connection between the water tank and the return pipe is located above the filter assembly, and the connection between the water tank and the water supply pipe is located below the filter assembly.

10. A float glass production system, characterized in that, The float glass production system includes a glass dehydration mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-4 or a glass cleaning device as described in any one of claims 5-9.

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