Device for machining parallelograms on straight-line grinding machines, particularly for glass sheets

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for machining parallelograms on straight-line grinding machines, particularly for glass sheets.

[0002] As is known, straight-line grinding machines are adapted to machine flat glass sheets on one side of the sheet at a time.

[0003] The sheet is placed on a motorized entry conveyor which is its reference plane for the machining.

[0004] The entry conveyor is adapted to load the sheets, after which the sheet is taken into the transporter of the machining center for machining, and finally it comes out on an exit conveyor for the unloading operation.

[0005] Given that the sheet is placed on the lower side, a problem arises with machining sheets with a polygonal shape in which the center of gravity lies beyond the point where the sheet is supported, therefore not allowing its movement without the sheet falling off.

[0006] In particular, this occurs when the sheet is a parallelepiped in which the center of gravity falls outside the contact base of the sheet.

[0007] For machining such shapes, there are devices on the market today that make it possible to carry out machining which consist of a second, higher motorized transporter to be placed at a preset height, where a sheet with a center of gravity that falls outside the lower resting surface can rest and will be accompanied during all of its translation, while always keeping it in the correct position.

[0008] This solution, although satisfactory from the point of view of results, firstly is expensive given that a second conveyor needs to be provided, and secondly is technically complicated, in that the straight-line grinding machine now has two separate conveyors.

[0009] Document AU625449B2 forms the basis for the preamble of claim 1.

[0010] The aim of the present invention is to provide a straight-line grinding machine, particularly for glass sheets, wherein the parallelogram to be machined does not require the use of a second motorized transporter as the conventional solutions do.

[0011] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a straight-line grinding machine, wherein the parallelogram shape to be subjected to machining is moved in a simplified manner along the straight-line grinding machine.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a straight-line grinding machine, wherein the straight-line grinding machine is technically simplified with respect to conventional straight-line grinding machines.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a straight-line grinding machine that is highly reliable, easily and practically implemented and at low cost.

[0014] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a straight-line grinding machine, particularly for glass sheets, as defined in claim 1.

[0015] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the device according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the straight-line grinding machine with a device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a detail of Figure 1.

[0016] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a straight-line grinding machine to which the device according to the present invention is applied.

[0017] The straight-line grinding machine comprises a motorized transporter 2, which is adapted to transport a parallelogram 3, for example a glass sheet 3, in which the center of gravity falls outside the contact base 4 of the sheet.

[0018] In this case, movement of the sheet along the working surface of the straight-line grinding machine is aided by a device 10 according to the present invention, which comprises at least one guiding bar 11 adapted to be arranged at a suitable height at the supporting frame 12 of the straight-line grinding machine 1, and on which can be engaged at least one sliding carriage 13 which is provided with an engagement clamp 14 which locks the sheet 3 to the carriage 13 in the desired position.

[0019] Conveniently, the carriages are provided with idle sliding rollers.

[0020] The weight of the sheet 3 with its center of gravity outside the resting surface 4 therefore rests on the sliding carriage 13. However, because the carriage 13 is integral with the sheet 3, it is not possible for it to change position with respect to the lower transport surface, thereby enabling its machining and translation along the straight-line grinding machine 1.

[0021] The carriage 13, which is provided with idle sliding rollers, accompanies the sheet 3 from the loading step, to machining, up until the unloading step of the operator, that releases the carriage 13 from the sheet 3 and places it on an inclined track 15, which allows the return by gravity of the carriage 13 to the entry position on the sheet 3.

[0022] The solution proposed above has a great advantage in terms of application costs and of operator safety, in that the sheet is firmly fixed to the guiding bar 11 using the carriage 13, and is moved in total safety for the operator.

[0023] The present invention therefore also relates to a straight-line grinding machine provided with a device 10 for machining parallelograms according to the foregoing description.

[0024] The straight-line grinding machine 1 also comprises, as mentioned, an inclined track 15 which makes it possible to return the carriages 13 to the initial position once the sheet 3 has been machined and has been unloaded by the operator from the straight-line grinding machine 1.

[0025] In practice it has been found that the device according to the present invention fully achieves the set aim and objects, in that it makes it possible, with ease and in safety, to machine a parallelogram-shaped glass sheet with a center of gravity that falls outside of the resting base of the sheet, and without needing to resort to the use of a second motorized transporter, as happens in the known art.

[0026] The device, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0027] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0028] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and to the state of the art.

[0029] Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and / or signs, those reference numerals and / or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and / or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and / or signs.

Claims

1. A straight-line grinding machine (1) for machining parallelograms, particularly for glass sheets, which comprises at least one guiding bar (11) coupled to the straight-line grinding machine (1), said guiding bar (11) being provided with one sliding carriage (13) for locking in place a parallelogram (3) being machined on said straight-line grinding machine, characterised in that said carriage (13) being provided with a single clamp (14) mounted on said carriage (13) which locks said parallelogram (3) to said guiding bar (11), wherein the clamp acts together with a bearing surface (4) of the straight-line grinding machine (1), such that the weight of the parallelogram (3) with a center of gravity outside the bearing surface (4) bears on the sliding carriage (13).

2. The straight-line grinding machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliding carriage (13) is provided with idle sliding rollers.

3. The straight-line grinding machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one guiding bar (11) is adapted to be arranged at a chosen height on a supporting frame (12) of said straight-line grinding machine (1).

4. The straight-line grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one sliding carriage (13) is configured to slide along said at least one guiding bar (11).

5. The straight-line grinding machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second guiding bar (15), which is adapted to be arranged below said at least one guiding bar (13) and inclined with respect to said at least one guiding bar (13) and adapted to return said one sliding carriage (13), by gravity, to the initial position for loading said parallelogram (3) being machined, when an operator releases the sliding carriage with the clamp from the glass sheet and places it on said inclined second guiding bar (15) .