GLASS EDGE PROCESSING PLANT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a glass edge processing system according to the features in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] After cutting glass panes or glass panels, their edges may contain microcracks. These are not only visually and safety-wise disadvantageous, but under unfavorable circumstances can also lead to the breakage of the glass panel due to stress and / or mechanical forces. Therefore, glass cutting is usually followed by glass edge processing. The type of processing depends largely on the intended use of the glass panels. When beading a glass edge, it is broken and softened with a grinding tool. Grinding is carried out to make the glass edges smoother and more visually appealing. Edge grinding is carried out primarily to increase the safety of use of the glass panels. It is also possible to grind the edges of the glass panels to the exact required installation size.To achieve a greater aesthetic effect, the glass edges can be polished additionally after grinding.

[0003] A glass edge processing system or a device for producing edges with variable bevels on glass plates and similar plate-shaped objects is part of the state of the art according to EP 1 649 975 B1.

[0004] KR 101 843 495 B1 discloses a device for polishing flat glass with automatic adjustment of the pressure of the polishing wheel.

[0005] EP 1 422 024 A1 discloses a device and method for controlling the operating setting of a polishing wheel in a machine for polishing glass plates, marble plates and stone-like or similar materials.

[0006] A method for adjusting the grinding wheel on a flat glass grinding machine and a machine for applying such a method is disclosed in EP 1 197 295 A2.

[0007] CN 103 707 109 B shows a 5-axis synchronous machining device for curved surface structures arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0008] Further state of the art is DE 88 16 549 U1.

[0009] In glass edge processing systems, each edge of the glass sheet is typically processed by at least three grinding tools arranged one behind the other. Due to the material, the grinding tools must be cooled by a fluid during the grinding process. Overall, the technical and design complexity of such glass edge processing systems is relatively high. This applies in particular to the adjustment arrangements in the processing units, which are used to adjust the position and contact pressure of the processing tool relative to a glass edge. Known systems feature a spindle mounted on a mechanically adjustable carriage. A pneumatic cylinder is also provided to generate the necessary contact pressure for grinding and / or polishing.The existing processing units and their control systems also require various control and regulation components, such as valves and the like. In particular, the control systems for adjusting the position and contact pressure of a processing tool relative to a glass edge appear to be in need of improvement, also with regard to readjustment in the event of wear on the processing bodies or grinding and polishing pads that occurs during operation.

[0010] Based on the prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a glass edge processing system with improved plant and functional technology.

[0011] The solution to this problem according to the invention consists in a glass edge processing system according to the features of claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the glass edge processing system according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] A glass edge processing system comprises a transport device for a glass sheet to be processed. The glass sheet can be transported along at least one processing unit by the transport device. The processing unit comprises a rotating processing tool for processing a glass edge of the glass sheet. Furthermore, an adjustment arrangement is provided for adjusting the position and contact force of the processing tool relative to the glass edge.

[0014] According to the invention, the actuating arrangement comprises a linear drive and a stepper motor which are designed and intended to adjust the position and the contact force of the machining tool.

[0015] The processing tool is in particular a cup wheel with a processing body for polishing and / or grinding glass edges.

[0016] The linear actuator is a mechanical linear unit with a piston rod. The drive element for the piston rod consists of an electrically driven spindle, which is driven by the stepper motor and converts its rotary motion into a linear movement of the piston rod.

[0017] The spindle is a ball screw.

[0018] The machining unit features an electric motor with a rotor and a stator. In technical terms, the electric motor is also called a spindle motor. The linear drive is connected to the rotor via an axial coupling. The axial coupling decouples the linear drive from the rotor. The linear drive transmits the axial retraction and extension movement of the piston rod to the rotor and the machining tool. This can occur during operation while the machining tool is rotating.

[0019] The rotor can be axially displaced within the stator to a limited extent. To transmit the linear movement of the linear drive for adjusting the position and contact pressure of the machining tool, the rotor is axially displaced within the stator by the linear drive. This displacement is followed by the adjustment of the machining tool.

[0020] The stepper motor is coupled to a servo amplifier, which controls the speed and torque of the stepper motor. The servo amplifier forms the link between the controller and the stepper motor.

[0021] The stepper motor is connected to the linear drive via a coupling. In particular, the coupling between the stepper motor and the linear drive is also an axial coupling.

[0022] The actuator assembly according to the invention is designed for use in a wet environment and is therefore particularly suitable for use in a water-cooled environment where glass is machined. The actuator assembly is integrated into an encapsulated guide. The position of the machining tool and the contact force of the machining tool are controlled via the actuator assembly and an associated data processing unit.

[0023] The adjustment arrangement enables both the positioning and adjustment of the processing tool and the setting or regulation of the contact pressure for grinding and / or polishing a glass edge.

[0024] A torque control system enables automated tool measurement during glass edge processing. The positioning system with the linear drive applies the processing tool to the glass edge to be ground / polished at a preset pressure. Control and regulation operations can be performed remotely.

[0025] The glass edge processing system and its components are equipped with a system management system designed and designed to record operating torques and derive information about the wear of the processing tools or the grinding and polishing bodies, i.e., the processing bodies of the processing tool. Measurement of the processing tools or the processing bodies can also be performed. For this purpose, a stop is provided against which the processing tool can be moved at reduced torque in order to determine the coating thickness of a processing body of the processing tool. Measurement is performed using the "Move to Fixed Stop" function. The processing tool can be moved to the stop, exerting a defined contact force on the stop. For this function, the processing tool can be provided with a reference point with which it moves against the stop.The approach movement to the stop occurs with reduced torque. When the machining tool or the machining body of the machining tool reaches the stop, the torque increases. The acquired data can be used to determine the wear of the machining body and the thickness of the coating on the machining body. The system enables a simple measurement process for determining the coating thickness of a machining body.

[0026] This is achieved by a measurement run to the stop, during which the coating thickness of the machining units is automatically scanned. The measured values ​​are evaluated and used to adjust the positioning and / or torque control. The machining units move to their calculated position and are held in place.

[0027] Any downstream processing units move to their last saved processing position and wait for the leading edge of a glass sheet to enter the system. Then, they switch to torque control and generate the necessary processing pressure. As soon as the glass edge has moved along the processing units or tools, they switch to position control, and the last processing position is saved. Wear can be determined using the learned processing positions and the entered data for the processing body, especially the coating thickness.

[0028] In particular, in the case of processing units used to grind the glass edges, i.e. grinding units, wear can be determined by means of a regular measuring run and recorded and / or entered data of the processing body.

[0029] The processing tool and / or the glass edge to be processed can be at least partially exposed to a fluid. The fluid exposure serves to cool and support the grinding or polishing process. The processing unit and its actuator assembly are designed for use in wet environments. The glass edge processing system preferably has a fluid collector and / or a fluid conditioner.

[0030] The invention also relates in particular to a processing line with a glass edge processing system in which several processing units are arranged one after the other in a line.

[0031] The glass edge processing system according to the invention enables precise positioning of the processing tool according to specified tool data. Measurement of the processing tools or processing bodies can be performed by moving them to a fixed stop with reduced torque. The contact force during grinding and polishing is determined by torque generation of the axis in torque control mode. Glass thickness-related torques can also be specified. Furthermore, wear on the processing tools or processing bodies can be monitored.

[0032] It is also possible to switch from torque control to position control at the beginning or end of processing a glass edge. This helps prevent so-called tail-on / tail-off effects. Furthermore, monitoring the maximum stroke in the event of glass breakage is possible during operation.

[0033] In particular, the glass edge processing system has been improved in terms of its design and functionality. Various conventional components such as proportional valves, feed cylinders, clamping cylinders, and similar components are eliminated. Of particular note is that the glass edge processing system according to the invention can be operated fully automatically. Regular maintenance intervals can be planned efficiently.

[0034] The glass edge processing system is characterized by its low susceptibility to failure.

[0035] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a view of a glass edge processing system according to the invention with the representation of several processing units arranged in a processing line, Figure 2 shows section A of the Figure 1in an enlarged view; Figure 3 a view of a processing unit of the glass edge processing system; Figure 4 a section through the representation of the Figure 3 along the line AA and Figure 5 components of the processing unit and their positioning arrangement in an exploded view.

[0036] The Figure 1 shows a glass edge processing system 1 with a representation of the machine bed for processing a glass edge. The glass edge processing system 1 has several processing units 2, 3, and 4 arranged in a line.

[0037] For processing, a glass plate 5 is transported by a conveyor 6 with the aid of a belt along the processing units 2, 3, 4. Each processing unit 2, 3, 4 has a rotating processing tool 7 for processing a glass edge 8 of the glass plate 5. Furthermore, an adjusting arrangement 9 is provided for adjusting the position and contact pressure of the processing tool 7 relative to the glass edge 8.

[0038] During transport through the glass edge processing system 1 along the processing units 2, 3, 4, the glass edge 8 comes into contact successively with the individual processing tools 7 of the processing units 2, 3, 4.

[0039] The processing units 2 (a, b, c) grind the glass edge 8.

[0040] The processing unit 3 (a) following the further passage of the glass plate 5 has the task of grinding the hem of the glass edge 8 at the bottom.

[0041] The following processing unit 3 (b) takes over the polishing of the seam on the glass edge 8 below.

[0042] The next processing unit 3 (c) grinds the edge of the glass edge 8 at the top.

[0043] The further processing unit 3 (d) takes over the polishing of the edge of the glass edge 8 below.

[0044] The processing units 4 (a, b and c) following further in the line polish the glass edge 8.

[0045] Each actuating arrangement 9 of the processing units 2, 3, 4 has a linear drive 10 and a stepper motor 11. In this regard, particular attention is drawn to the Figures 3 to 5 to refer.

[0046] The linear drive 10 and the stepper motor 11 are connected via a coupling 12. The linear drive 10 comprises a spindle 13 driven by the stepper motor 11 and a piston rod 14 that can be extended and retracted linearly within the cylinder 15 of the linear drive 10. The spindle 13 is a ball screw drive. The stepper motor 11 is coupled to a servo amplifier.

[0047] The processing tools 7 are each set up for the grinding or polishing function. In A processing body 17 is housed in a bell- or disc-like support body 16. Depending on its function, the processing body 17 is a grinding wheel or a polishing wheel.

[0048] Each machining tool 7 is coupled to a rotor 18 of an electric motor 19. The electric motor 19 drives the machining tools 7 of the machining units 2 in rotation. The rotor 18 is arranged in a stator 20 of the electric motor 19 and can be axially displaced there within a limited range. The housing of the electric motor 19 is designated 21.

[0049] Each processing unit 2, 3, 4 is equipped with a fluid supply system 22, via which a processing tool 7 and / or a glass edge 8 to be processed can be exposed to a fluid. This is done in particular for cooling purposes of the processing surfaces.

[0050] The linear drive 10 is rotationally decoupled from the rotor 18 via an axial coupling 23. The axial linear movement exerted by the piston rod 14 can be transmitted to the rotating components of a machining unit 2, 3, 4 via the axial coupling 23.

[0051] The position and contact pressure of a processing tool 7 relative to a glass edge 8 are adjusted by means of the adjusting arrangement 9. The linear drive 10 and the stepper motor 11 interact and are designed and intended to adjust the position and contact pressure of a processing tool 7 relative to a glass edge 8. In this way, targeted positioning of the processing tools 7 is possible. Furthermore, the contact pressure can be regulated both during grinding and, in particular, during polishing by generating torque as a result of adjusting the contact pressure using the adjusting arrangement 9. Targeted switching from torque control (contact pressure during polishing) to position control (direct approach and freezing of a position) at the beginning and end of a glass edge is also possible to avoid tail-on / tail-off effects. The maximum stroke during processing is also monitored to prevent malfunctions or failures.

[0052] Furthermore, it is possible to determine and track the wear or wear conditions of the machining bodies 17. This is done with the "Travel to fixed stop" function. A stop 24 is provided for this purpose (see Figure 2). The stop 24 forms a fixed obstacle against which a processing tool 7 with its processing body 17 can be moved. During this approach or displacement to the stop 24, a torque limiter is active in the drive. During such a measuring run, parameterization takes place by determining actual data and comparing it with target data for the coating thickness of a processing body 17. The current coating thickness of a processing body 17 is determined and processed and evaluated accordingly within the data processing of a plant management system. The processing processes during ongoing operation when processing glass edges 8 of a glass plate 5 are each set based on the determined data. The processing units 2, 3 and 4 are positioned, adjusted and operated accordingly. The position and contact pressure of the processing tools 7 are sequentially controlled depending on the determined parameters. Reference symbol:

[0053] 1 - Glass edge processing system 2 - Processing units 3 - Processing units 4 - Processing units 5 - Glass plate 6 - Transport device 7 - Processing tool 8 - Glass edge 9 - Actuating arrangement 10 - Linear drive 11 - Stepper motor 12 - Coupling 13 - Spindle 14 - Piston rod 15 - Cylinder 16 - Support body 17 - Processing body 18 - Rotor 19 - Electric motor 20 - Stator 21 - Housing of 19 22 - Fluid supply system 23 - Axial coupling 24 - Stop

Claims

1. A glass edge processing plant, which has a transport apparatus (6) for a glass plate (5) to be processed, wherein the glass plate (5) can be transported by the transport apparatus (6) along at least one processing aggregate (2, 3, 4), wherein the processing aggregate (2, 3, 4) has a rotating drivable processing tool (7) for processing a glass edge (8) of the glass plate (5) and a setting arrangement (9) for setting the position and the contact pressure of the processing tool (7) relative to the glass edge (8), wherein the setting arrangement (9) has a linear drive (10) and a stepper motor (11) which are configured and intended to set the position and the contact force of the processing tool (7), wherein the linear drive (10) has a spindle (13) drivable by the stepper motor (11) and a piston rod (14), wherein the spindle (13) is a ball screw, characterized in that the processing aggregate (2, 3, 4) has an electric motor (19) with a rotor (18) and a stator (20) and the linear drive (10) is connected to the rotor (18) in a rotationally decoupled manner via an axial coupling (23), wherein the rotor (18) is axially displaceable within a limited range in the stator (20) and the stepper motor (11) is coupled to a servo-amplifier.

2. The glass edge processing plant according to claim 1, characterized in that a stop (24) is provided against which the processing tool (7) can be displaced in order to determine the coating thickness of the processing body (17) of the processing tool (7).

3. The glass edge processing plant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the processing tool (7) and / or the glass edge (8) to be processed can be at least partially subjected to a fluid.

4. The glass edge processing plant according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in a line, several consecutive processing aggregates (2, 3, 4) are provided.