Outline slit line forming system and slitting method

Abstract

To provide an outline cut line forming system capable of surely forming an outline cut line having a sufficient depth on a glass plate to be processed.SOLUTION: The outline cutting line forming system (10) includes: a cutter holder lowering means which lowers a cutting cutter holder toward the upper surface of the glass plate and toward the start point of forming the outline cutting line by an elevating mechanism to apply a predetermined downward pressing force to a cutting cutter wheel when the outline cutting line is formed on the glass plate; and a cutting device (57) which advances and retreats from the start point of forming the outline cutting line toward the end point of forming the outline cutting line of the glass plate while adjusting the angle of the cutting cutter wheel around the axis perpendicular to the XY plane while being finely vibrated. And an outer shape cutting line forming means for forming the outer shape cutting line on the glass plate by the cutting cutter wheel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an outline score line forming system and a cutting method for forming outline score lines on a glass plate to be processed, such as a glass plate for an automobile window or a glass plate for a liquid crystal display. [Background technology]

[0002] A glass plate processing system is disclosed that is formed from an input conveyor that carries in glass plates, a cutting processing area located in front of the input conveyor, a slitting processing area located in front of the slitting processing area, a grinding processing area located in front of the slitting processing area, an output conveyor located in front of the grinding processing area, and a transport mechanism that transports glass plates from the input conveyor to each processing area (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The slitting area of ​​this glass plate processing system includes a slitting table having a first movement mechanism that moves in the width direction while a positioned glass plate is placed thereon, and a slitting device that is movable in the front-to-rear direction. The slitting device is equipped with a slitting jig having a slitting cutter wheel and a slitting cutter holder, and an elevator mechanism that raises and lowers the slitting cutter holder in the vertical direction. In the slitting area, the slitting device moves rearward in the front-to-rear direction toward the outer width of the peripheral area of ​​the glass plate placed on the slitting table, and then the first movement mechanism moves the slitting table in the width direction toward the slitting device, and the slitting device moves in the front-to-rear direction, so that the slitting cutter wheel forms an outline scribe line of a predetermined depth extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the glass plate placed on the slitting table. The slitting area includes a slitting table on which the glass plate after slitting is placed, and a slitting device that is movable in the front-to-rear and width directions. In the slicing processing area, the slicing device moves backward in the front-to-rear direction toward the slicing processing table, and then the slicing device is used to form a slicing line (scribe) of a predetermined depth from the top surface to the bottom surface at the slicing line formation location in the peripheral area of ​​the glass plate placed on the slicing processing table, and slicing (breaking) the peripheral area outside the outline cutting line of the glass plate.

[0004] The grinding area includes a grinding table having a second movement mechanism that moves in the width direction while the positioned glass plate body after bending is placed on it, and a grinding device that can move in the front-to-rear direction. In the grinding area, the grinding device moves rearward in the front-to-rear direction toward the widthwise outward edge of the glass plate body placed on the grinding table, and then the second movement mechanism moves the grinding table in the width direction toward the grinding device, and the grinding device is used to grind the peripheral edge of the glass plate body placed on the grinding table. Note that the cutting and grinding are performed synchronously. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-040877 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the cutting process in the glass plate processing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, an outline cut line is formed on the glass plate from the start point of the outline cut line formation to the end point of the outline cut line formation, but depending on the thickness and hardness of the glass plate to be processed, the depth of the outline cut line may become shallow, making it impossible to form an outline cut line of sufficient depth, and it may not be possible to bend and split the glass plate cleanly at the outline cut line, and therefore it may not be possible to process the glass plate into the specified planar shape.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an outline score line forming system and an outline score processing method that can reliably form outline score lines of sufficient depth in a glass sheet to be processed. Another object of the present invention is to provide an outline score line forming system and an outline score processing method that can reliably and cleanly bend and split the glass sheet at the outline score lines and process the glass sheet into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the outline score lines. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The first premise of the present invention for solving the above problem is an outline cut line forming system that uses a cutting jig to form an outline cut line of a predetermined depth in a glass plate from the top surface to the bottom surface of the glass plate to be processed.

[0009] The feature of the contour cut line forming system of the present invention in the first premise is that the cutting jig vibrates slightly by repeatedly moving forward and backward from the starting point of the contour cut line formation on the glass plate toward the end point of the contour cut line formation, while gradually moving forward toward the end point of the contour cut line formation, thereby forming the contour cut line on the glass plate.

[0010] In one example of the contour incision line forming system of the present invention, a cutting jig advances a predetermined advance distance in the direction of advance from the starting point of the contour incision line formation, advances the predetermined advance distance, then retreats a predetermined return distance in the opposite direction to the direction of advance, retreats the predetermined return distance, advances a predetermined advance distance in the direction of advance that is longer than the predetermined return distance, advances a predetermined advance distance that is longer than the predetermined return dimension, retreats in the opposite direction, retreats the predetermined return distance, and then advances a predetermined advance distance that is longer than the predetermined return dimension in the direction of advance, forming a contour incision line on a glass plate from the starting point of the contour incision line formation to the end point of the contour incision line formation.

[0011] In another example of the contour incision line forming system of the present invention, the cutting jig repeats two or more times of retreating in the opposite direction by a predetermined return dimension and advancing in the forward direction by a dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension, then advances in the forward direction by a predetermined advance dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, advances by a predetermined advance dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, and then advances two or more times of retreating in the opposite direction by the predetermined return dimension and advancing in the forward direction by a dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension, while advancing and retreating in such a way that the jig repeats two or more times of retreating in the opposite direction by the predetermined return dimension and advancing in the forward direction by a dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension, thereby forming a contour incision line from the starting point of the contour incision line formation of the glass plate to the end point of the contour incision line formation.

[0012] In another example of the contour cutting line forming system of the present invention, the advance dimension in the direction of advance of the cutting jig and the return dimension in the opposite direction are in the range of 0.5 to 1.2 mm, and the advance speed in the direction of advance of the cutting jig is in the range of 2 to 30 m / min.

[0013] In another example of the contour cut line forming system of the present invention, the advancement in the direction of advancement of the cutting jig and the retreat in the opposite direction are performed by vibration of 35 to 400 Hz.

[0014] In another example of the contour score line forming system of the present invention, the pressure with which the scoring jig presses the upper surface of the glass plate is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 MPa.

[0015] Another example of the outline score line forming system of the present invention is used in a cutting device in which a cutting jig performs contour control movement under NC control to process a glass plate into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the outline score line.

[0016] Another example of the outline cut line forming system of the present invention is a cutter jig having a cutter wheel and a cutter holder that supports the cutter wheel, and the cutter device has a lifting mechanism that raises and lowers the cutter holder in an up and down direction, and when forming an outline cut line on the glass plate, the lifting mechanism lowers the cutter holder toward the upper surface of the glass plate and toward the start point of the outline cut line formation, applying a predetermined downward pressing force to the cutter wheel.The system also has an outline cut line forming means that adjusts the angle of the cutter wheel around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane, and advances the cutter device while vibrating it slightly so that it repeatedly moves forward and backward from the start point of the outline cut line formation on the glass plate toward the end point of the outline cut line formation, forming the outline cut line on the glass plate with the cutter wheel.

[0017] The second premise of the present invention for solving the above problem is a cutting method that uses a cutting device equipped with a cutting cutter wheel, a cutting cutter holder that supports the cutting cutter wheel, and a lifting mechanism that applies a predetermined downward pressing force to the cutting cutter wheel, to form an outline cutting line of a predetermined depth in a glass plate that is to be processed, extending from the top surface to the bottom surface.

[0018] The cutting method of the present invention in the second premise is characterized in that it comprises a cutter holder lowering step in which, when forming an outline cut line on a glass plate, the cutting cutter holder is lowered toward the upper surface of the glass plate and toward the start point of the outline cut line formation, applying a predetermined downward pressing force to the cutting cutter wheel, and a outline cut line forming step in which the cutting device is advanced while vibrating slightly so as to repeatedly advance and retreat from the start point of the outline cut line formation on the glass plate toward the end point of the outline cut line formation, while adjusting the angle of the cutting cutter wheel around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane, and forming an outline cut line on the glass plate with the cutting cutter wheel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the outline score line forming system of the present invention, the scribing jig repeatedly advances and retreats slightly from the outline score line formation start point toward the outline score line formation end point on the upper surface of the glass sheet to be processed, while gradually advancing toward the outline score line formation end point to form outline score lines of a predetermined depth in the glass sheet. Therefore, the outline score lines are formed as the scribing jig reciprocates across the upper surface of the glass sheet, and the depth of the outline score lines does not become shallower, so that the scribing jig can reliably form outline score lines (scribes) of sufficient depth from the upper surface to the lower surface of the glass sheet regardless of the thickness or hardness of the glass sheet. The outline score line forming system can smoothly and reliably break the glass sheet at the outline score lines, can bend and break the glass sheet cleanly at the outline score lines, and can process the glass sheet into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the outline score lines.

[0020] In the contour incision line forming system, the scribing jig advances a predetermined advance distance in the direction of advance from the starting point of the contour incision line formation, advances the predetermined advance distance, then retreats a predetermined return distance in the opposite direction to the direction of advance, retreats the predetermined return distance, advances a predetermined advance distance in the direction of advance that is longer than the predetermined return distance, advances a predetermined advance distance that is longer than the predetermined return dimension, retreats in the opposite direction, retreats the predetermined return distance, and then advances a predetermined advance distance in the direction of advance that is longer than the predetermined return dimension.As a result, the scribing jig advances and retreats repeatedly across the top surface of the glass plate, vibrating slightly as it gradually advances, forming contour incisions of the predetermined depth, and the depth of the contour incisions does not become shallower, and contour incisions (scribes) of sufficient depth from the top surface to the bottom surface of the glass plate can be reliably formed.

[0021] In the contour incision line forming system, the cutting jig repeats two or more times of retreating in the opposite direction by a predetermined return dimension and advancing in the forward direction by a dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension, then advancing in the forward direction by a predetermined dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, advancing by a predetermined dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, and then advancing by a predetermined dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension in the forward direction, repeating this two or more times.Therefore, the cutting jig gradually advances while vibrating slightly as it advances and retreats two or more times across the top surface of the glass plate, thereby forming contour incisions of the predetermined depth, and the depth of the contour incisions does not become shallower, and contour incisions (scribes) of sufficient depth from the top surface to the bottom surface of the glass plate can be reliably formed.

[0022] In the contour score line forming system, the advance dimension in the advancing direction of the scoring jig and the return dimension in the opposite direction are in the range of 0.5 to 1.2 mm, so the scoring jig repeatedly advances and retreats over these dimensions across the upper surface of the glass sheet while vibrating slightly, gradually advancing to form contour score lines of a predetermined depth, and the depth of the contour score lines does not become shallower, so contour score lines (scribes) of sufficient depth extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the glass sheet can be reliably formed.In the contour score line forming system, the advance speed of the scoring jig in the advancing direction is in the range of 2 to 30 m / min, so contour score lines can be quickly formed on the glass sheet.

[0023] In the contour cut line forming system, the cutting jig advances in the direction of travel and retreats in the opposite direction using vibrations of 35 to 400 Hz, so the cutting jig gradually advances while repeatedly vibrating slightly across the top surface of the glass plate at vibrations of 35 to 400 Hz, forming contour cut lines of a predetermined depth.This prevents the depth of the contour cut lines from becoming shallower, and ensures the formation of contour cut lines (scribes) of sufficient depth from the top surface to the bottom surface of the glass plate.

[0024] In the contour cut line forming system, the cutting jig repeatedly moves forward and backward while pressing the upper surface of the glass plate with a pressure in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 MPs, so the cutting jig can repeatedly move forward and backward while pressing the upper surface of the glass plate with sufficient pressure, and the cutting jig can reliably form a contour cut line (scribe) of sufficient depth from the upper surface to the lower surface of the glass plate.

[0025] The outline score line forming system uses a scoring jig in a scoring device that performs contour control motion under NC control to process the glass sheet into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the outline score lines, so the scoring jig can reliably form outline score lines of sufficient depth in the glass sheet. The outline score line forming system can smoothly and reliably break the glass sheet at the outline score lines, can bend and break the glass sheet cleanly at the outline score lines, and can process the glass sheet into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the outline score lines.

[0026] The contour incision line forming system includes a cutter holder lowering means that, when forming contour incision lines on a glass plate, uses a lifting mechanism to lower the incision cutter holder toward the upper surface of the glass plate and toward the contour incision line formation starting point, applying a predetermined downward pressing force to the incision cutter wheel, and a contour incision line forming means that advances the incision device while vibrating it slightly so that it repeatedly moves forward and backward from the contour incision line formation starting point on the glass plate toward the contour incision line formation end point, while adjusting the angle of the incision cutter wheel around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane, thereby forming contour incision lines on the glass plate with the incision cutter wheel.Therefore, contour incision lines of sufficient depth can be reliably formed on the glass plate by the contour incision line forming means that advances the incision device while vibrating it slightly so that it repeatedly moves forward and backward. The contour cut line forming system can smoothly and reliably break (break) the glass plate at the contour cut line, can bend and break the glass plate cleanly at the contour cut line, and can process the glass plate into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the contour cut line.

[0027] According to the scoring method of the present invention, when forming contour score lines in a glass sheet, a cutter holder lowering step is performed in which a scoring cutter holder is lowered toward the upper surface of the glass sheet and toward the contour score line formation start point, thereby applying a predetermined downward pressure to the scoring cutter wheel, and a contour score line forming step is performed in which a scoring device is advanced while being slightly vibrated so as to repeatedly advance and retreat from the contour score line formation start point to the contour score line formation end point while adjusting the angle of the scoring cutter wheel about an axis perpendicular to the XY plane, thereby forming contour score lines in the glass sheet with the scoring cutter wheel. Therefore, the contour score line forming step in which the scoring device is advanced while being slightly vibrated so as to repeatedly advance and retreat can reliably form contour score lines of sufficient depth in the glass sheet. The scoring method can smoothly and reliably break the glass sheet at the contour score lines, can bend and break the glass sheet cleanly at the contour score lines, and can process the glass sheet into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the contour score lines. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a glass sheet processing system including a cutting device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the glass plate processing system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top view showing an example of a glass plate to be processed by the glass plate processing system. [Figure 4] Side view of the loading area. [Figure 5] Top view of loading area. [Figure 6] Front view of the loading area. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the movement of the cutting table and the grinding table. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view of a cutting device shown as an example installed in a cutting processing area. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] Top view of the cutting device [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. [Figure 18] Enlarged side view of the cutting device. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a front view of an example of a grinding device installed in a grinding processing area. [Figure 20] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The outline score line forming system 10 and the scoring method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view of a glass sheet processing apparatus 11 including the outline score line forming system 10, and Fig. 2 is a top view of the glass sheet processing system 11 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view showing an example of a glass sheet 12 to be processed by the glass sheet processing apparatus 11. Fig. 3 shows the glass sheet 12 positioned in a carry-in area 20. In Figs. 1 to 3, the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) is indicated by arrow X, the width direction (Y-axis direction) is indicated by arrow Y, and the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) is indicated by arrow Z.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 3, a glass sheet 12 to be processed in the glass sheet processing apparatus 11 has an upper surface 13 and a lower surface 14 of a predetermined area, a predetermined thickness, and a rectangular shape in plan view that is elongated in the width direction. The glass sheet 12 has a first side edge 15 and a second side edge 16 that extend in the front-to-rear direction and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, a front edge 17 and a rear edge 18 that extend in the width direction and are spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction, and first to fourth corners 19a to 19d. Note that the planar shape of the glass sheet is not limited to that shown in the figure, and glass sheets of any planar shape are included.

[0031] The glass plate processing device 11 performs cutting, breaking, and grinding on a glass plate 12 (plate glass) to be processed, thereby processing it into a glass plate (processed glass) of a predetermined planar shape. The glass plate processing device 11 is controlled by a controller. The controller is a computer equipped with a central processing unit and memory, operates under an independent operating system, and has a built-in large-capacity hard disk.

[0032] The large-capacity hard disk of the controller stores the name and product number of each glass plate 12 to be processed, a plurality of coordinate data of the glass plate 12 that differ depending on the size (area) and shape of each glass plate 12 to be processed (coordinates of both side edges of the glass plate 12, coordinates of the front and rear edges, coordinates of the first to fourth corners 19a to 19d, coordinates of the center of the glass plate 12, etc.), and image data of the glass plate 12 in a state associated with glass plate identification information (glass plate identification identifier) ​​that identifies the glass plate 12. The glass plate identification information may be the manufacturing number or serial number of the glass plate 12, or the controller may generate a unique identifier that identifies the glass plate 12 and use the generated identifier as the glass plate identification information.

[0033] The controller uses coordinate data of the glass plate 12 stored on a large-capacity hard disk to NC-control the cutting device 57, the cutting device 76, and the grinding device 104 during the cutting process in the cutting area 21 equipped with the outer cut line forming system 10, the slitting process in the slitting process area 22, and the grinding process in the grinding process area 23. In NC control, the controller digitizes the position where cutting starts (XY plane coordinates) and the position where the cutting direction changes using coordinates, and digitizes the movement direction, distance, and speed of two axes: the X axis (front-back direction) and the Y axis (width direction). Signals that digitize the command coordinates and axes are sent (input) to the cutting device 57, the slitting device 76, and the grinding device 104. In NC control, the desired shape is accurately represented by repeating the cycle of "coordinate → axis → command."

[0034] The glass plate processing device 11 has an input area 20 for the glass plate 12 before processing, an output area 24 for the glass plate 12 after processing, processing areas 21 to 23 arranged between the input area 20 and the output area 24 to process the glass plate 12, and a transport mechanism 25 that transports the glass plate 12 sequentially from rear (upstream) to front (downstream) in the front-to-rear direction to the processing areas 21 to 23 and the output area 24.

[0035] These processing areas 21 to 23 are made up of a cutting processing area 21 located in front (downstream) of the carry-in area 20, a slitting processing area 22 located in front (downstream) of the cutting processing area 21, and a grinding processing area 23 located in front (downstream) of the slitting processing area 22. The cutting processing area 21, slitting processing area 22, and grinding processing area 23 are built on a machine table 26.

[0036] The conveying mechanism 25 has a pair of first pillars 27a located at the rear of the machine table 26 and extending in the vertical direction, a pair of second pillars 27b located at the front of the machine table 26 and extending in the vertical direction, a fixed frame 28 located between the first and second pillars 27a, 27b and extending in the front-to-back direction, a first moving unit 29 (first moving means) installed on one side of the fixed frame 28, and a second moving unit 30 (second moving means) installed at the bottom of the fixed frame 28, which is separate from the fixed frame 28.

[0037] The first moving unit 29 moves the cutting device 57 and the grinding device 104 forward and backward (linearly) in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). The first moving unit 29 is formed of a first guide frame 31, a pair of first guide rails 32, a first feed screw (ball screw), a first traveling frame 33, a plurality of first slide blocks (housing nuts), a pair of first guide shoes 34, and a first servo motor 35 (see FIG. 11).

[0038] The fixed frame 28 and the first guide frame 31 are connected between the first and second pillars 27a, 27b and extend in the front-rear direction. The first guide rails 32 face each other and are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and are fixed to one side of the first guide frame 31 by a predetermined fixing means, extending in the front-rear direction. A first lead screw (ball screw) is located between the first guide rails 32, rotatably supported by a plurality of bearings fixed to one side of the first guide frame 31, and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0039] The first traveling frame 33 extends in the front-rear direction at a predetermined distance from one side of the first guide frame 31. The first slide blocks (ball screw nuts) are lined up at a predetermined distance from each other in the front-rear direction and fixed by a predetermined fixing means to the surface of the first traveling frame 33 facing the first guide frame 31. The first guide shoes 34 face each other in the vertical direction and are fixed by a predetermined fixing means to the surface of the first traveling frame 33 facing the first guide frame 31, extending in the front-rear direction. The first servo motor 35 is located at the front end of the first guide frame 31 and is connected to the second pillar 27b via a bracket. The shaft of the first servo motor 35 is connected and fixed to the other end of the first lead screw.

[0040] When the shaft of the first servo motor 35 rotates counterclockwise, the first lead screw rotates counterclockwise, causing the first slide block to move in the front-to-rear direction from the front to the rear of the first guide frame 31, and the movement of the first slide block causes the first traveling frame 33 to move linearly from the front to the rear of the first guide frame 31. When the shaft of the first servo motor 35 rotates clockwise, the first lead screw rotates clockwise, causing the first slide block to move in the front-to-rear direction from the rear to the front of the first guide frame 31, and the movement of the first slide block causes the first traveling frame 33 to move linearly from the rear to the front of the first guide frame 31.

[0041] The second moving unit 30 moves the first to fourth glass plate holders 41a to 41d forward and backward (linearly) in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). The second moving unit 30 is formed by a second guide frame 36, a pair of second guide rails 37, a second feed screw (ball screw), a second traveling frame 38, a plurality of second slide blocks (housing nuts), a pair of second guide shoes 39, a second servo motor 40, and the first to fourth glass plate holders 41a to 41d (first to fourth glass plate lifters) (see FIG. 15).

[0042] The fixed frame 28 and the second guide frame 36 are connected between the first and second pillars 27a, 27b and extend in the front-rear direction. The second guide rails 37 face each other and are spaced apart in the width direction, are fixed to the lower part of the second guide frame 36 by a predetermined fixing means, and extend in the front-rear direction. The second lead screw (ball screw) is located between the second guide rails 37, and is rotatably supported by multiple bearings fixed to the lower part of the second guide frame 36, extending in the front-rear direction.

[0043] The second traveling frame 38 is located below the second guide frame 36 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The second slide blocks (housing nuts) are spaced apart in the width direction and fixed by a predetermined fixing means to the surface of the second traveling frame 38 facing the second guide frame 36. The second guide shoes 39 are spaced apart in the width direction and fixed by a predetermined fixing means to the surface of the second traveling frame 38 facing the second guide frame 36, extending in the front-to-rear direction. The second servo motor 40 is located at the rear end of the second guide frame 36 and fixed to the second guide frame 36. The shaft of the second servo motor 40 is connected and fixed to one end of the second lead screw via a timing belt (and / or gear).

[0044] When the shaft of the second servo motor 40 rotates clockwise, the second feed screw rotates counterclockwise, causing the second slide block to move back and forth from the rear to the front of the second guide frame 36. The movement of the second slide block causes the second traveling frame 38 (first to fourth glass plate holders 41a to 41d) to move linearly from the rear to the front of the second guide frame 36. When the shaft of the second servo motor 40 rotates counterclockwise, the second feed screw rotates clockwise, causing the second slide block to move back and forth from the front to the rear of the second guide frame 36. The movement of the second slide block causes the second traveling frame 38 to move linearly from the front to the rear of the second guide frame 36. A control unit that controls the start / stop, rotation speed, and rotational speed of the first and second servo motors 35, 40 is connected to a controller via a signal line (wired or wireless).

[0045] The first to fourth glass plate holders 41a to 41d are attached to the lower part of the second traveling frame 38, extend downward from the traveling frame 38, and are aligned at equal intervals in the front-to-rear direction. Each of the first to fourth glass plate holders 41a to 41d has a pad installation plate 42 extending in the front-to-rear direction, suction pads 43 installed on the pad installation plate 42 for suction-holding the glass plate 12, a vacuum mechanism equipped with an air vacuum pump, and a pad lifting mechanism. An air cylinder is used for the pad lifting mechanism. A control unit that controls the start and stop of the vacuum mechanism and pad lifting mechanism is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0046] The first glass plate holder 41a advances from the carry-in area 20 toward the slitting area 21 and retreats from the slitting area 21 toward the carry-in area 20. The second glass plate holder 41b advances from the slitting area 21 toward the cutting area 22 and retreats from the slitting area 22 toward the slitting area 21. The third glass plate holder 41c advances from the slitting area 22 toward the grinding area 23 and retreats from the grinding area 23 toward the slitting area 22. The fourth glass plate holder 41d advances from the grinding area 23 toward the unloading area 24 and retreats from the unloading area 24 toward the grinding area 23.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a side view of the carry-in area 20, and FIG. 5 is a top view of the carry-in area 20. FIG. 6 is a front view of the carry-in area 20. The carry-in area 20 has a carry-in conveyor 44, a stopper 45 and a roller 46, a pair of roller lifting mechanisms 47, and a moving mechanism 48. The carry-in area 20 is supported by legs extending upward from the floor surface of the machine table 26. In the carry-in area 20, a first positioning means (first positioning step) and a second positioning means (second positioning step) are carried out, and the glass sheet 12 heading to each of the processing areas 21 to 23 is positioned.

[0048] A first positioning reference L1 extending in the front-rear direction and a second positioning reference L2 (see FIG. 3) extending in the width direction are set on the first side edge 49a of the loading area 20. The first positioning reference L1 is an imaginary line extending straight in the front-rear direction based on the outermost edge located farthest outward in the width direction of the first side edges 15 extending in the front-rear direction on one side of the width direction of the glass plate 12. For example, if the first side edge 15 of the glass plate 12 is curved, the outermost edge is the apex of the curve located farthest outward in the width direction. Furthermore, if the first side edge 15 of the glass plate 12 extends straight in the front-rear direction, that side edge 15 is the outermost edge.

[0049] The first positioning reference L1 is the outermost edge of the first side edge 15 extending in the front-to-rear direction on one side of the width direction of the glass plate 12. Here, positioning the outermost edge on the first positioning reference L1 includes not only the case where the outermost edge completely coincides with the first positioning reference L1, but also the case where the outermost edge is located near (close to) the inside of the first positioning reference L1 in the width direction, or the case where the outermost edge is located near (close to) the outside of the first positioning reference L1 in the width direction.

[0050] The second positioning reference L2 is located at the front-rear center O1 (the center line L2 extending in the width direction by dividing the front-rear dimension of the glass plate 12 in half) of the first side edge 15 extending in the front-rear direction on one side of the width direction of the glass plate 12. Here, locating the front-rear center O1 (center line L2) at the second positioning reference L2 includes a case where the front-rear center O1 completely coincides with the second positioning reference L2, a case where the front-rear center O1 is located in the vicinity of (close to) the front of the second positioning reference L2, or a case where the front-rear center O1 is located in the vicinity of (close to) the rear of the second positioning reference L2.

[0051] The controller uses the coordinate data of the glass plate 12 stored in the large-capacity hard disk to calculate the widthwise dimension of the glass plate 12, and determines a first movement dimension (first movement distance) in the widthwise direction for positioning the first side edge 15 of the glass plate 12 at the first positioning reference L1 (first virtual positioning reference line) depending on the difference in the calculated widthwise (Y-axis) dimension of the glass plate 12, and determines the number of rotations of the shaft of the third servo motor 52 based on the determined first movement dimension. The controller stores the determined first movement dimension and the determined number of rotations of the shaft of the third servo motor 52 in the large-capacity hard disk in a state associated with glass plate-specific information of the glass plate 12.

[0052] The controller uses the coordinate data of each glass plate 12 to calculate the dimension of the glass plate 12 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), and determines a second movement dimension (second movement distance) of the carry-in conveyor 44 backward in the front-rear direction to position the front-rear center O1 of the first side edge 15 of the glass plate 12 at the second positioning reference L2 (second virtual positioning reference line) depending on the difference in the calculated front-rear direction dimensions of the glass plate 12. The controller calculates the movement dimension (movement distance) of the cutting device 57 and the grinding device 104 in the front-rear direction from the coordinate data of the processed shape, and determines the rotation speed of the shaft of the first servo motor 35 based on the calculated movement dimension.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 , the carry-in conveyors 44 are multiple endless tracks extending in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) and arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction (Y-axis direction). A control unit that controls the start / stop and transport distance of the carry-in conveyors 44 is connected to the controller via a signal line. The carry-in conveyors 44 transport the glass sheets 12 in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end to the front end of the carry-in area 20. Stoppers 45 are installed at the front end of the carry-in area 20 and are arranged at intervals in the width direction. The leading edge 17 of the glass sheet 12 moving forward from the rear end to the front end of the carry-in area 20 by the carry-in conveyors 44 abuts against the stoppers 45. A non-contact sensor is installed behind the stopper 45. The non-contact sensor is connected to the controller. When the non-contact sensor detects the leading edge 17 of the glass sheet 12, the movement of the glass sheet 12 is decelerated, and the leading edge 17 of the glass sheet 12 abuts against the stopper 45 for a set time.

[0054] The rollers 46 are rotatably attached to a plurality of shafts 50 extending in the front-to-rear direction, and are installed together with the shafts 50 between the carry-in conveyors 44. The rollers 46 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the front-to-rear direction and at predetermined intervals in the width direction. The rollers 46 rotate clockwise and counterclockwise in the width direction, and abut against the underside 14 of the glass sheet 12 to support the glass sheet 12 so that it can move in the width direction. The shafts 50 are attached via bearings to bases located below them.

[0055] A resistance plate (rubber ring) that increases the rotational resistance of roller 46a is attached between roller 46a of these rollers 46 and shaft 50. The resistance between roller 46a and shaft 50 is increased by the resistance plate, and roller 46a will not rotate unless a rotational force that exceeds the rotational resistance is applied to roller 46a, and the resistance plate prevents free rotation of roller 46a. When glass sheet 12 is placed on these rollers 46, roller 46a, which has a large rotational resistance, prevents free movement of glass sheet 12 in the width direction.

[0056] The roller lifting mechanisms 47 are installed below the base to which the shafts 50 are attached, and are arranged at a predetermined distance apart in the width direction. Air cylinders are used for the roller lifting mechanisms 47, and the shafts 50 and rollers 46 are raised and lowered in the vertical direction together with the base by the roller lifting mechanisms 47. The lifting and lowering dimensions of the roller lifting mechanisms 47 are set in advance. A control unit that starts and stops the roller lifting mechanisms 47 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0057] While the carry-in conveyor 44 is transporting the glass sheet 12, the roller lifting mechanism 47 lowers the rollers 46 (bases and shafts 50) below the carry-in conveyor 44 so that the rollers 46 do not come into contact with the underside 14 of the glass sheet 12. When the roller lifting mechanism 47 raises the rollers 46, the peripheral edges of the rollers 46 are exposed above the carry-in conveyor 44, and the glass sheet 12 is lifted above the carry-in conveyor 44 by the rollers 46.

[0058] The moving mechanism 48 includes a rod 51 located above the feed conveyor 44 and rollers 46, a third servo motor 52 installed on the rod 51, a feed screw installed on the rod 51 and connected to the shaft of the third servo motor 52, a moving arm 53 extending downward from the rod 51, and an abutment member 54 installed at the lower end of the moving arm 53.

[0059] The rod 51 is attached to the rear surface of the first pillar 27a and extends in the width direction. The moving arm 53 is movably mounted on a feed screw, and moves linearly from one side to the other in the width direction along the rod 51 as the feed screw rotates due to rotation of the shaft of the third servo motor 52. The abutting member 54 moves linearly in the width direction together with the moving arm 53 as the moving arm 53 moves in the width direction. When the roller 46 raised by the roller elevating mechanism 47 is in contact with the underside 14 of the glass sheet 12, the abutting member 54 abuts against the second side edge 16 of the glass sheet 12 and presses against the glass sheet 12 so that the glass sheet 12 moves in the width direction. A control unit that controls the start / stop, rotation speed, and rotational speed of the third servo motor 52 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0060] Fig. 7 is a top view of the cutting table 55 and the grinding table 103, and Fig. 8 is a side view of the cutting table 55 and the grinding table 103. Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the cutting table 55 and the grinding table 103. In Figs. 7 and 8, the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) is indicated by arrow X, the width direction (Y-axis direction) is indicated by arrow Y, and the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) is indicated by arrow Z.

[0061] The cutting processing area 21 is equipped with a cutting processing table 55 on which the glass plate 12 positioned in the loading area 20 is placed, and a cutting device 57 that cuts an outline cutting line K1 (outline cutting line) in the peripheral area 56b of the glass plate 12 placed on the cutting processing table 55.

[0062] The cutting table 55 is placed on a base lane 58a that is long in the width direction and fixed to the floor surface of the machine base 26. The cutting table 55 uses a first movement mechanism 59a to move in the width direction with the positioned glass plate 12 placed on it. The first movement mechanism 59a is formed from a traveling guide rail 60a, a feed screw 61a (ball screw), a fourth servo motor 62, a guide shoe 63a, and a slide block 64a (housing nut).

[0063] The travel guide rail 60a is installed on the upper surface of the base lane 58a and extends in the width direction. The feed screw 61a is installed on the upper surface of the base lane 58a, to the side of the travel guide rail 60a, and extends in the width direction. The fourth servo motor 62 is installed behind the machine base 26 and moves the cutting table 55 back and forth in the width direction. The other end of the feed screw 61a is connected to the shaft of the fourth servo motor 62. A control unit that controls the start / stop, rotation speed, and rotational frequency of the fourth servo motor 62 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0064] The feed screw 61 is rotatably supported by a bearing fixed to the base lane 58. The guide shoe 63a is attached to the underside of the cutting table 55 and extends in the width direction. The guide shoe 63a is slidably fitted into the traveling guide rail 60a. The slide block 64a (housing nut) is attached between the guide shoes 63a on the underside of the cutting table 55. The slide block 64a is rotatably threaded onto the feed screw 61a.

[0065] When the shaft of the fourth servo motor 62 rotates clockwise (the direction of rotation when the fourth servo motor 62 is viewed from the front), the feed screw 61a rotates clockwise, causing the slide block 64a to move the feed screw 61a widthwise from the second side edge 49b of the cutting processing area 21 toward the first side edge 49a, and the movement of the slide block 64a causes the cutting processing table 55 to move widthwise from the second side edge 49b of the cutting processing area 21 toward the first side edge 49a. When the shaft of the fourth servo motor 62 rotates counterclockwise, the feed screw 61a rotates counterclockwise, causing the slide block 64a to move the feed screw 61a widthwise from the first side edge 49a to the second side edge 49b of the cutting processing area 21, and the movement of the slide block 64a causes the cutting processing table 55 to move widthwise from the first side edge 49a to the second side edge 49b of the cutting processing area 21.

[0066] FIG. 10 is a side view of an example of a cutting device 57 installed in the cutting processing area 21. FIG. 11 is a front view of the cutting device 57, and FIG. 12 is a top view of the cutting device 57. The cutting device 57 includes a cutting jig 65, an air cylinder 66, a fifth servo motor 67, and a voice coil motor (VCM) 68. The cutting jig 65 is formed of a cutting cutter wheel 69, a cutting cutter holder 70, and a cutter lifting shaft 71. The cutting cutter wheel 69 is connected to the cutting cutter holder 70 via a bearing and rotates freely along the axis of the interposed bearing. The cutting cutter wheel 69 forms an outline cutting line K1 in the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12.

[0067] The notching cutter holder 70 is located directly above the notching cutter wheel 69 and is connected to the cutter wheel 69 to support the cutter wheel 69. The cutter lifting shaft 71 is located directly above the notching cutter holder 70 and is connected to the cutter holder 70 to support the cutter holder 70. The notching jig 65 is connected to a support shaft 72 located directly above the air cylinder 66 and which rotatably supports the notching jig 65. The support shaft 72 is attached to a bracket 73 located directly above it. The bracket 73 is connected to a first moving unit 29 of the transport mechanism 25 which moves forward and backward (linearly) in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction).

[0068] The air cylinder 66 is installed directly above the cutter lifting shaft 71. The air cylinder 66 raises and lowers the notching cutter wheel 69 (notching cutter holder 70) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and when forming the outline cut line K1 in the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12, it lowers the cutter wheel 69 toward the upper surface 13 of the glass sheet 12 to apply a cutting pressure (downward pressing force) to the notching cutter wheel 69. The pressure with which the notching cutter wheel 69 presses against the upper surface 13 of the glass sheet 12 is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 MPas. A control unit that controls the start and stop of the air cylinder 66 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0069] The shaft of the fifth servo motor 67 is connected to the support shaft 72 via a timing belt 74. A control unit that controls the start / stop, rotation speed, and rotational frequency of the fifth servo motor 67 is connected to the controller via a signal line. The fifth servo motor 67 adjusts the cutting direction of the cutting jig 65 (cutting cutter wheel 69) (the angle around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane).

[0070] The voice coil motor 68 is located to the side of the cutting cutter holder 70 and is connected to the cutting jig 65. The voice coil motor 68 converts electrical signals into mechanical motion, causing the coil to reciprocate at high speed within the strong magnetic field created by the Nd-Fe-B magnet. The vibration (reciprocating motion) of the voice coil motor 68 can be adjusted within a range of 35 to 400 Hz. The reciprocating motion of the voice coil motor 68 is transmitted to the cutting jig 65, causing the cutting cutter wheel 69 to reciprocate at high speed. The forward and backward movement of the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 65) in the forward and backward directions is achieved by the vibration of 35 to 400 Hz. A control unit that controls the start / stop and frequency of the voice coil motor 68 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0071] In the cutting device 57, the control unit of the air cylinder 66 abuts the cutting cutter wheel 69 against the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 with a predetermined pressing force, the control unit of the voice coil motor 68 operates the voice coil motor 68 at a predetermined frequency to cause the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 65) to vibrate slightly so that it repeatedly moves forward and backward, and the control unit of the fifth servo motor 67 rotates the shaft of the motor 67 based on an NC control signal sent from the controller, thereby NC-controlling the cutting jig 65, and the cutting jig 65 forms an outer cutting line K1 of the shape desired to be processed in the peripheral area 56b of the glass plate 12 according to the NC control.

[0072] Fig. 13 is a top view of the cutting table 75, and Fig. 14 is a side view of the cutting table 75. The cutting area 22 includes the cutting table 75 on which the glass sheet 12 is placed after being cut in the cutting area 21, a cutting device 76 that cuts the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 placed on the cutting table 75, the peripheral area 56b being located outside the outline cut line K1, and a support device (not shown) that supports the glass sheet 12.

[0073] The breaking table 75 is formed of a belt conveyor 77 that runs in the width direction (Y-axis direction) and a conveyor drive motor 78 that drives the belt conveyor 77, and is installed on a base plate fixed to the floor of the machine base 26. The belt conveyor 77 is formed of a belt 79 that extends in the width direction, a plurality of pulleys 80 and carrier rollers 81 that support the belt 79, and a conveyor frame 82 that supports the belt 79, the pulleys 80, and the carrier rollers 81. The glass sheet 12 that has been cut is placed on the belt conveyor 77. The belt conveyor 77 transports the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 broken by the breaking device 76 to the other side in the width direction, and discards the broken peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 in a dust box.

[0074] The shaft of the conveyor drive motor 78 is connected to a pulley 80 by a timing belt. A control unit that controls the start and stop of the conveyor drive motor 78 is connected to the controller via a signal line. When the shaft of the conveyor drive motor 78 rotates clockwise, the rotation is transmitted to the pulley 80 via the timing belt, causing the pulley 80 to rotate clockwise, and the rotation of the pulley 80 causes the belt 79 to travel in the other direction in the width direction.

[0075] Fig. 15 is a side view of the cutting device 76, and Fig. 16 is a front view of the cutting device 76. Fig. 17 is a top view of the cutting device 76, and Fig. 18 is an enlarged side view of the cutting device 76. The cutting device 76 is formed of two units, first and second cutting devices 76a and 76b, which are spaced apart in the width direction.

[0076] The first cutting device 76a is connected to the first guide frame 31, and the second cutting device 76b is connected to a suspension frame 83. The suspension frame 83 is connected to a side of the second guide frame 36. The first cutting device 76a has a first cutting tool 84a, first and second air cylinders 85a and 85b, a sixth servo motor 86, a seventh servo motor 88 (X-axis servo motor) and an X-axis first actuator 87a, an eighth servo motor 92 (Y-axis servo motor) and a Y-axis first actuator 89a, an X-axis first actuator frame 90a, and a Y-axis first actuator frame 91a. The X-axis first actuator frame 90a and the Y-axis first actuator frame 91a are connected in series at one end thereof.

[0077] The second bending and cutting device 76b has a second bending and cutting jig 84b, first and second air cylinders 85b, 85b, a sixth servo motor 86, a ninth servo motor 93 (X-axis servo motor) and an X-axis second actuator 87b, a tenth servo motor 94 (Y-axis servo motor) and a Y-axis second actuator 89b, an X-axis second actuator frame 90b, and a Y-axis second actuator frame 91b. The X-axis second actuator frame 90b and the Y-axis second actuator frame 91b are connected in series at one end thereof.

[0078] 18, the first and second folding and cutting jigs 84a, 84b are formed from a folding and cutting cutter wheel 96, a folding and cutting cutter holder 95, a holder lifting mechanism 97, a pressure roller 98, and a roller lifting shaft 99. The folding and cutting cutter wheel 96 is connected to the folding and cutting cutter holder 95 via a bearing, and rotates freely along the axis of the interposed bearing.

[0079] The breaking cutter holder 95 is located above the breaking cutter wheel 96 and supports the breaking cutter wheel 96. The holder lifting mechanism 97 is located directly above the breaking cutter holder 95 and is connected to the cutter holder 95 to support the cutter holder 95. The pressure roller 98 is located near the breaking cutter wheel 96 and outward in the width direction of the cutter wheel 96 and presses the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 downward. The roller lifting shaft 99 is located directly above the pressure roller 98 and is connected to the pressure roller 98 to support the pressure roller 98.

[0080] The splitting cutter wheel 96 forms an edge cutting line K2 (scribe) in the peripheral area 56b (the peripheral portion of the glass sheet 12 extending outside the outline cut line K1) of the glass sheet 12. The splitting cutter wheel 96 is rotatably (rollably) attached to the tip of the cutter holder 95 via a rolling shaft, and its peripheral edge rolls around the rolling shaft.

[0081] The first air cylinder 85a (lifting mechanism) is installed directly above the holder lifting mechanism 97 and is connected to the holder lifting mechanism 97. The first air cylinder 85a is connected to a support shaft 100 located directly above it that rotatably supports the breaking jigs 84a and 84b. The support shaft 100 is attached to a bracket 101 located directly above it. The bracket 101 is slidably attached to the X-axis first and second actuator frames 90a and 90b.

[0082] The first air cylinder 85a moves the breaking cutter wheel 96 (breaking cutter holder 95) up and down in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and when breaking the glass plate 12, lowers the cutter wheel 96 toward the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12, applying a downward pressing force to the cutter wheel 96. A control unit that controls the start and stop of the first air cylinder 85a is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0083] The second air cylinder 85b (lifting mechanism) is installed immediately above the roller lifting shaft 99 and near the outside of the first air cylinder 85a in the width direction, and is connected to the roller lifting shaft 99. The second air cylinder 85b moves the pressure roller 98 up and down (in the Z-axis direction), and when breaking the glass sheet 12, lowers the roller 98 toward the upper surface 13 of the glass sheet 12, applying a downward pressing force to the roller 98. A control unit that controls starting and stopping of the second air cylinder 85b is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0084] The sixth servo motor 86 is located inside the first air cylinder 85a in the width direction, and is connected and fixed to the underside of a bracket 101. The shaft of the sixth servo motor 86 is connected to a support shaft 100 via a timing belt 102. The sixth servo motor 86 fine-tunes the orientation of the cutting direction of the cutting jigs 84a, 84b (cutter wheel 96) (angle around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane). A control unit that controls the start and stop of the sixth servo motor 86 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0085] Seventh and ninth servo motors 86, 93 (X-axis servo motors) are installed on first and second X-axis actuator frames 90a, 90b, and their shafts are connected to first and second X-axis actuators 87a, 87b. The first and second X-axis actuators 87a, 87b have threaded portions and guide portions. When the shafts of the seventh and ninth servo motors 86, 93 rotate clockwise, the threaded portions of the first and second X-axis actuators 87a, 87b rotate clockwise, and when the threaded portions rotate counterclockwise, the first and second breaking and splitting jigs 84a, 84b move forward in the front-to-rear direction along the first and second X-axis actuator frames 90a, 90b. When the shafts of the seventh and ninth servo motors 86, 93 rotate counterclockwise, the threaded portions of the first and second X-axis actuators 87a, 87b rotate counterclockwise, and when the threaded portions rotate counterclockwise, the first and second breaking and splitting jigs 84a, 84b move rearward in the front-to-rear direction on the first and second X-axis actuator frames 90a, 90b together with the bracket 101. A control unit that controls the start / stop, rotation speed, and rotational speed of the seventh and ninth servo motors 86, 93 is connected to a controller via a signal line.

[0086] Eighth and tenth servo motors 92, 94 (Y-axis servo motors) are installed on first and second Y-axis actuator frames 91a, 91b, and their shafts are connected to first and second Y-axis actuators 89a, 89b. The first and second Y-axis actuators 89a, 89b have threaded portions and guide portions. When the shafts of the eighth and tenth servo motors 92, 94 rotate clockwise, the threaded portions of the Y-axis first and second actuators 89a, 89b rotate clockwise, and when the threaded portions rotate counterclockwise, the first and second folding and splitting jigs 84a, 84b move together with the bracket 101 in one direction in the width direction on the Y-axis first and second actuator frames 91a, 91b. When the shafts of the eighth and tenth servo motors 92, 94 rotate counterclockwise, the threaded portions of the Y-axis first and second actuators 89a, 89b rotate counterclockwise, and when the threaded portions rotate counterclockwise, the first and second folding and splitting jigs 84a, 84b move together with the bracket 101 in the other direction in the width direction on the Y-axis first and second actuator frames 91a, 91b. A control unit that controls the start / stop, rotation speed, and rotational speed of the eighth and tenth servo motors 92, 94 is connected to a controller via a signal line.

[0087] Fig. 19 is a front view of an example of a grinding device 104 installed in the grinding area 23, and Fig. 20 is a side view of the grinding device 104. The grinding area 23 is equipped with a grinding table 103 on which the glass plate 12 after being subjected to the bending and cutting process in the bending and cutting process area 22 is placed, and a grinding device 104 that grinds the edge (periphery) of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 placed on the grinding table 103.

[0088] The grinding table 103 is placed on a base lane 58b that is long in the width direction and fixed to the floor surface of the machine base 26 (see FIG. 7). The grinding table 103 is equipped with a plurality of suction pads 105 that suction-hold the glass plate 12, and a vacuum mechanism (air vacuum pump) that applies negative pressure to the suction pads 105 to impart suction force to the suction pads 105. A control unit that controls the start and stop of the vacuum mechanism is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0089] The grinding table 103, carrying the positioned glass plate 12, moves in the width direction using a second movement mechanism 59b. The second movement mechanism 59b is composed of a travel guide rail 60b, a feed screw 61b (ball screw), an eleventh servo motor 106, a guide shoe 63b, and a slide block 64b (housing nut). The travel guide rail 60b is installed on the upper surface of the base lane 58b and extends in the width direction. The feed screw 61b is installed on the upper surface of the base lane 58b, beside the travel guide rail 60b, and extends in the width direction. The eleventh servo motor 106 is installed on the base lane 58b and reciprocates the grinding table 103 in the width direction. The other end of the feed screw 61b is connected to the shaft of the twelfth servo motor 108. A control unit that controls the start / stop, rotation speed, and rotational speed of the eleventh servo motor 106 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0090] The feed screw 61b is rotatably supported by a bearing fixed to the base lane 58b. The guide shoe 63b is attached to the underside of the grinding table 103 and extends in the width direction. The guide shoe 63b is slidably fitted into the traveling guide rail 60b. The slide block 64b is attached to the underside of the grinding table 103 and between the guide shoes 63b. The slide block 64b is rotatably threadedly attached to the feed screw 61b.

[0091] When the shaft of the 11th servo motor 106 rotates clockwise, the feed screw 61b rotates clockwise, causing the slide block 64b to move in the width direction of the feed screw 61b from the second side edge 49b of the grinding area 23 toward the first side edge 49a, and the movement of the slide block 64b causes the grinding table 103 to move in the width direction from the second side edge 49b of the grinding area 23 toward the first side edge 49a.

[0092] When the shaft of the eleventh servo motor 106 rotates counterclockwise, the feed screw 61b rotates counterclockwise, causing the slide block 64b to move in the width direction of the feed screw 61b from the first side edge 49a toward the second side edge 49b of the grinding area 23, and the movement of the slide block 64b causes the grinding table 103 to move in the width direction from the first side edge 49a toward the second side edge 49b of the grinding area 23. The eleventh servo motor 106 is driven in synchronization with the fourth servo motor 62 in the cutting area 21, and the grinding table 103 moves in the width direction in synchronization with the movement of the cutting table 55 in the width direction.

[0093] The grinding device 104 includes a grinding jig 107, a twelfth servo motor 108 (grinding Z-axis servo motor), a thirteenth servo motor 109 (lifting servo motor), a fourteenth servo motor 110 (cutting servo motor), a grinding wheel lifting screw 111, and a grinding wheel cutting screw 112. The grinding jig 107 is formed of a grinding wheel 113, a grinding holder 114, a cover 115, and a spindle motor 116. The grinding wheel 113 is formed in a disk shape having a predetermined diameter, and its outer peripheral surface grinds the peripheral edge of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12.

[0094] The grinding holder 114 is located directly above the grinding wheel 113 and rotatably supports the grinding wheel 113. The cover 115 is detachably attached to the grinding jig 107 and is located directly below the grinding wheel 113 to cover the entire grinding wheel 113. The cover 115 has a slit 117 formed therein into which the periphery of the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 is inserted. The spindle motor 116 is located directly above the grinding wheel 113 and is installed and housed in a motor housing 118. The shaft of the spindle motor 116 is connected to the center of the grinding wheel 113. Rotation of the shaft of the spindle motor 116 rotates the grinding wheel 113. The motor housing 118 is fixed to the first traveling frame 33 via a bracket 119. A control unit that controls starting and stopping of the spindle motor 116 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0095] The twelfth servo motor 108 is located near the rear of the grinding jig 107, and is connected and fixed to the traveling frame 33 via a bracket 119. The shaft of the twelfth servo motor 108 is connected to the support shaft of the motor housing 118. The twelfth servo motor 108 finely adjusts the axial orientation (angle around the axis) of the grinding wheel 113 so that the outer peripheral surface of the grinding wheel 113 abuts parallel to the peripheral edge of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12.

[0096] The thirteenth servo motor 109 is located near the outside of the motor housing 118 (spindle motor 116) in the width direction, and is connected to and fixed to the motor housing 118. The shaft of the thirteenth servo motor 109 is connected to a grinding wheel lift screw 111, and rotates the grinding wheel lift screw 111. The thirteenth servo motor 109 moves the grinding wheel 113 (motor housing 118) up and down in accordance with the thickness dimension of the glass plate 12, and fine-adjusts the height of the grinding wheel 113 so that the height of the grinding wheel 113 matches the height of the edge of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 and the outer circumferential surface of the grinding wheel 113 abuts against the edge of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12.

[0097] In the initial setting to start processing the glass plate 12, the distance from the mounting reference surface of the grinding wheel 113 to the center of the groove is input to the controller. The controller calculates the number of rotations of the shaft of the 13th servo motor 109 based on the input distance and sends the calculated number of rotations to the control unit of the 13th servo motor 109. The control unit of the 13th servo motor 109 rotates the shaft of the 13th servo motor 109 at the number of rotations received from the controller, thereby raising and lowering the grinding wheel 113 (motor housing 118). As long as the thickness dimension of the glass plate 12 to be processed remains the same, once fine adjustment of the height of the grinding wheel 113 is set, no further adjustment is required.

[0098] The fourteenth servo motor 110 is located immediately below the thirteenth servo motor 109 and near the outside in the width direction of the motor housing 118 (spindle motor 116), and is connected to and fixed to the motor housing 118. The shaft of the fourteenth servo motor 110 is connected to the grinding wheel cutting screw 112, and rotates the grinding wheel cutting screw 112. The fourteenth servo motor 110 moves the grinding wheel 113 (motor housing 118) in the width direction in accordance with the outer circumferential surface diameter of the grinding wheel 113, and finely adjusts the cutting depth of the grinding wheel 113 so that the outer circumferential surface of the grinding wheel 113 abuts against the peripheral edge of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12.

[0099] In the initial setting to start processing the glass plate 12, the diameter of the grinding wheel 113 is input to the controller. The controller calculates the rotation speed of the shaft of the fourteenth servo motor 110 based on the input diameter of the grinding wheel 113 and transmits the calculated rotation speed to the control unit of the fourteenth servo motor 110. The control unit of the fourteenth servo motor 110 rotates the shaft of the fourteenth servo motor 110 at the rotation speed received from the controller. When the shaft of the fourteenth servo motor 110 rotates at a predetermined rotation speed, the grinding wheel cutting screw 112 rotates and moves in the front-rear direction, thereby moving the grinding wheel 113 (motor housing 118) in the front-rear direction. As long as the diameter of the grinding wheel 113 remains constant, fine adjustment of the front-rear position of the grinding wheel 113 is performed once, and no further adjustment is required. A control unit that controls the start and stop of the twelfth servo motor 108, the thirteenth servo motor 109, and the fourteenth servo motor 110 is connected to the controller via a signal line.

[0100] An unloading conveyor 120 is installed in the unloading area 24. The unloading area 24 is supported by legs extending upward from the floor of the machine table 26. The unloading conveyors 120 are multiple endless tracks extending in the front-to-rear direction (X direction) and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction (Y direction). A control unit that controls the start and stop of these unloading conveyors 120 is connected to a controller via a signal line. The unloading conveyors 120 transport the processed glass sheets 12 in the front-to-rear direction from the rear end to the front end of the unloading area 24.

[0101] The following describes an example of processing (slitting, bending, and grinding) of the glass plate 12. At the start of processing, the first glass plate holder 41a waits above the carry-in area 20, the second glass plate holder 41b waits above the cutting area 21, the third glass plate holder 41c waits above the bending area 22, and the fourth glass plate holder 41d waits above the grinding area 23.

[0102] A touch panel connected to the controller displays a variety of glass plate images. A specific glass plate 12 to be processed is tapped (selected) from the variety of glass plate images displayed on the touch panel. When a specific glass plate 12 is selected, the controller selects an NC control program for processing the glass plate 12. The controller displays on the touch panel an input area for the distance from the mounting reference surface of the grinding wheel 113 to the center of the groove, an input area for the dimension of the glass plate 12 in the front-to-rear direction, and an input area for the diameter of the grinding wheel 113.

[0103] After inputting the distance from the mounting reference surface of the grinding wheel 113 to the center of the groove in the input area and the diameter of the grinding wheel 113 in the input area, the user taps the input button displayed on the touch panel. After the distance and diameter are input, the controller drives the 13th servo motor 109 to move the grinding wheel 113 up and down, fine-adjusting the height of the grinding wheel 113, and drives the 14th servo motor 110 to move the grinding wheel 113 in the width direction, fine-adjusting the position of the grinding wheel 113 in the front-to-rear direction. After these fine adjustments are completed, the controller displays a processing start button on the touch panel. Tapping the processing start button starts processing of the glass plate 12.

[0104] The selected glass plate 12 to be processed is carried into the carry-in area 20. In the carry-in area 20, the first positioning means and the second positioning means are performed. The glass plate 12 to be processed is automatically supplied to the carry-in conveyor 44 in the carry-in area 20 by an automatic supply device. Multiple glass plates 12 to be processed, each with the same area on the top surface 13 and bottom surface 14, are stacked vertically in the automatic supply device, and the glass plates 12 are supplied one by one from the automatic supply device to the carry-in conveyor 44.

[0105] An example of the procedure for positioning the glass plate 12 in the carry-in area 20 is as follows: The controller sends a conveyance signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44, and the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44, upon receiving the conveyance signal, drives the carry-in conveyor 44. The glass plate 12 carried into the carry-in area 20 is placed on the carry-in conveyor 44 with its underside 14 abutting against the carry-in conveyor 44. The first side edge 15 of the glass plate 12 is parallel to the first side edge 49a of the carry-in area 20, and the second side edge 16 of the glass plate 12 is parallel to the second side edge 49b of the carry-in area 20.

[0106] The glass sheet 12 placed on the carry-in conveyor 44 is gradually moved by the carry-in conveyor 44 from the rear to the front of the carry-in area 20. When a non-contact sensor installed behind the stopper 45 detects the leading edge 17 of the glass sheet 12, a detection signal is sent to the controller, and the controller sends a deceleration signal to the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44. The control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44 receives the deceleration signal and decelerates the carry-in conveyor 44, after which the leading edge 17 of the glass sheet 12 abuts against the stopper 45.

[0107] Next, the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44, which causes the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44 to stop driving the carry-in conveyor 44. The controller sends to the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44 a second movement dimension in the front-to-rear direction of the carry-in conveyor 44 for positioning the front-to-rear center O of the first side edge 15 of the glass sheet 12 at the second positioning reference L2 of the carry-in area 20, and also sends a backward signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44.

[0108] The control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44, which has received the second movement dimension and the retreat signal, drives the carry-in conveyor 44, causing the carry-in conveyor 44 to move the glass plate 12 rearward in the front-rear direction by the second movement dimension. When the carry-in conveyor 44 moves the glass plate 12 rearward in the front-rear direction by the second movement dimension, the front-rear direction center O1 of the first side edge 15 in the width direction of the glass plate 12 is positioned at the second positioning reference L2 in the carry-in area 20 (second positioning means).

[0109] After moving the glass sheet 12 rearward in the front-to-rear direction by the second movement dimension, the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44, and the control unit of the carry-in conveyor 44 stops driving the carry-in conveyor 44. Next, the controller sends an elevation signal (ON signal) to the control units of the roller elevation mechanisms 47, and the control units of the roller elevation mechanisms 47 raise the roller elevation mechanisms 47. The elevation of the roller elevation mechanisms 47 raises the rollers 46, exposing the peripheral portions of the rollers 46 above the carry-in conveyors 44. With the raised rollers 46 in contact with the underside 14 of the glass sheet 12, the rollers 46 lift the glass sheet 12 above the carry-in conveyor 44.

[0110] After the roller lifting mechanism 47 has completed lifting, the controller transmits to the control unit of the motor 52 the number of rotations of the third servo motor 52 calculated from the first movement dimension (first movement distance) in the width direction of the movement mechanism 48 for positioning the first side edge 15 of the glass sheet 12 at the first positioning reference L1, and also transmits a forward rotation signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the third servo motor 52. The control unit of the third servo motor 52 drives the third servo motor 52 to rotate the shaft of the motor 52 clockwise by a predetermined number of rotations.

[0111] The clockwise rotation of the shaft of the third servo motor 52 rotates the feed screw, causing the abutment member 54 to gradually move from the starting point of its movement toward one side in the width direction together with the moving arm 53. The abutment member 54 moving toward one side in the width direction abuts against the second side edge 16 of the glass plate 12, and presses the second side 16 of the glass plate 12 in the width direction so as to move the glass plate 12 from the other side to one side in the width direction. The glass plate 12 pressed by the abutment member 54 moves in the width direction on the rollers 46 from the other side to the one side in the width direction, and the outermost edge of the first side edge 15 in the width direction of the glass plate 12, which is located furthest outward in the width direction, is positioned at the first positioning reference L1 in the carry-in area 20 (first positioning means).

[0112] When the outermost edge of the first side edge 15 of the glass sheet 12 is positioned at the first positioning reference L1 in the carry-in area 20, the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the third servo motor 52, and the control unit of the third servo motor 52 stops driving the third servo motor 52. After the driving of the third servo motor 52 has stopped, the controller sends a reverse rotation signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the third servo motor 52, and the control unit of the third servo motor 52 drives the third servo motor 52 to rotate the shaft of the third servo motor 52 counterclockwise a predetermined number of rotations.

[0113] Counterclockwise rotation of the shaft of the third servo motor 52 rotates the feed screw, gradually moving the contact member 54 together with the moving arm 53 to the other side in the width direction, and the contact member 54 returns to the movement start point. After the contact member 54 returns to the movement start point, the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the third servo motor 52 and a lowering signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the roller lifting mechanism 47. Upon receiving the stop signal, the control unit of the third servo motor 52 stops driving the third servo motor 52, and upon receiving the lowering signal, the control unit of the roller lifting mechanism 47 lowers the roller lifting mechanism 47. When the roller lifting mechanism 47 lowers, the underside 14 of the glass sheet 12, which has been positioned by the first positioning means and the second positioning means, comes into contact with the transport conveyor 44.

[0114] After the positioning of the glass plate 12 is completed by the first positioning means and the second positioning means, the controller sends a lowering signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the lifting mechanism of the glass plate first holder 41a, and the control unit of the lifting mechanism causes the lifting mechanism to lower the suction pad 43 toward the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12. After the suction pad 43 of the glass plate first holder 41a comes into contact with the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12, the controller sends a suction signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the vacuum mechanism of the glass plate first holder 41a, and the control unit of the vacuum mechanism starts the vacuum mechanism.

[0115] By activating the vacuum mechanism, the glass plate 12 positioned in the carry-in area 20 is sucked onto the suction pad 43. The controller sends an elevation signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the pad elevation mechanism of the first glass plate holder 41a, and the control unit of the pad elevation mechanism causes the pad elevation mechanism to lift the suction pad 43. The glass plate 12 positioned by the first positioning means and the second positioning means in the carry-in area 20 is lifted together with the suction pad 43 while being adsorbed to the suction pad 43.

[0116] After the suction pad 43 (glass plate 12) has risen, the controller sends a forward movement signal (ON signal) to the control section of the second servo motor 40, and the control section of the second servo motor 40 drives the second servo motor 40. Rotation of the shaft of the second servo motor 40 causes the slide block to move in the front-to-rear direction from the rear to the front of the second guide frame 36, thereby moving the first glass plate holder 41a (glass plate 12) from the carry-in area 20 to the cutting area 21 (glass plate moving means (glass plate moving process)). Note that movement of the slide block causes the second to fourth glass plate holders 41b to 41d to move forward in the front-to-rear direction together with the first glass plate holder 41a.

[0117] After the glass plate first holder 41a moves to the cutting area 21, the controller sends a lowering signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the pad lifting mechanism of the glass plate first holder 41a, and the control unit of the pad lifting mechanism causes the pad lifting mechanism to lower the suction pads 43 (glass plate 12) onto the cutting table 55 in the cutting area 21. After the glass plate 12, which has been sucked onto the suction pads 43 of the glass plate first holder 41a, comes into contact with the cutting table 55, the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the vacuum mechanism of the glass plate first holder 41a, and the control unit of the vacuum mechanism stops activation of the vacuum mechanism. When the vacuum mechanism stops, the suction pads 43 are released from the glass plate 12, and the positioned glass plate 12 is placed on the cutting table 55.

[0118] Next, the controller sends a lift signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the pad lifting mechanism of the first glass sheet holder 41a, and the lift signal causes the first glass sheet holder 41a (pad lifting mechanism) to lift above the slitting table 55. After the first glass sheet holder 41a has lifted, the controller sends a retreat signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the second servo motor 40, and the shaft of the second servo motor 40 rotates to move the first glass sheet holder 41a from the slitting area 21 to the carry-in area 20, and the first glass sheet holder 41a waits above the carry-in area 20. The second to fourth glass sheet holders 41b to 41d also move rearward in the front-to-rear direction together with the first glass sheet holder 41a, and the second glass sheet holder 41b waits above the slitting area 21, the third glass sheet holder 41c waits above the breaking area 22, and the fourth glass sheet holder 41d waits above the grinding area 23.

[0119] The procedure for transporting the glass plate 12 after cutting from the cutting area 21 to the bending / splitting area 22 by the second glass plate holder 41b, the procedure for transporting the glass plate 12 after cutting from the bending / splitting area 22 to the grinding area 23 by the third glass plate holder 41c, and the procedure for transporting the glass plate 12 after grinding from the grinding area 23 to the unloading area 24 by the fourth glass plate holder 41d are the same as the procedure for transporting the glass plate 12 from the load area 20 to the cutting area 21 by the first glass plate holder 41a, so explanations of the transport procedures by the second to fourth glass plate holders 41b to 41d will be omitted.

[0120] After the glass sheet 12 is placed on the cutting table 55, the controller sends a backward signal (ON signal) to the control section of the first servo motor 35, and the control section of the first servo motor 35 drives the first servo motor 35. Rotation of the shaft of the first servo motor 35 causes the first slide block to move in the front-to-rear direction from the front to the rear of the first guide frame 31, thereby moving the cutting device 57 together with the first traveling frame 33 rearward in the front-to-rear direction in the cutting area 21, and the cutting device 57 is positioned outward in the width direction (the cutting start position) of the first corner 19a (front edge 17) of the glass sheet 12.

[0121] In the cutting process, when the glass plate 12 is placed on the cutting table 55, a suction pad (not shown) attached to the cutting table 55 comes into contact with the underside 14 of the glass plate 12, and a vacuum mechanism is activated to cause the suction pad to suction and hold the underside 14 of the glass plate 12. With the glass plate 12 being suction-held by the suction pad of the cutting table 55, the following cutting process is performed on the glass plate 12.

[0122] After the cutting device 57 is positioned widthwise outward from the first corner 19a of the glass sheet 12, the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the first servo motor 35 and a drive signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the fourth servo motor 62. The control unit of the first servo motor 35, upon receiving the stop signal, stops the first servo motor 35, and the control unit of the fourth servo motor 62, upon receiving the drive signal, drives the fourth servo motor 62. Rotation of the shaft of the fourth servo motor 62 moves the slide block 64a on the feed screw 61a in the width direction from the second side edge 49b toward the first side edge 49a of the cutting area 21, thereby moving the cutting table 55 widthwise from the second side edge 49b toward the first side edge 49a of the cutting area 21, and the cutting cutter wheel 69 of the cutting device 57 is positioned widthwise outward from the first corner 19a of the glass sheet 12 (the cutting standby position).

[0123] After the cutting device 57 is positioned widthwise outward of the first corner 19a of the glass sheet 12, the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the first servo motor 35 and sends a drive signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the fourth servo motor 62, causing the control unit of the first servo motor 35 to stop the first servo motor 35 and the control unit of the fourth servo motor 62 to drive the fourth servo motor 62. Rotation of the shaft of the fourth servo motor 62 moves the slide block 64a on the feed screw 61a in the width direction from the second side edge 49b toward the first side edge 49a of the cutting area 21, thereby moving the cutting table 55 in the width direction from the second side edge 49b toward the first side edge 49a of the cutting area 21, and the cutting cutter wheel 69 of the cutting device 57 is positioned at the first corner 19a of the glass sheet 12.

[0124] After the cutting cutter wheel 69 of the cutting device 57 is positioned at the first corner 19a of the glass sheet 12, the controller sends a lowering signal to the control unit of the air cylinder 66 (elevating mechanism) of the cutting device 57, sends a drive signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the voice coil motor 68, and sends a drive signal (ON signal) and an NC control signal to the control units of the first servo motor 35, the fourth servo motor 62, and the fifth servo motor 67. The control unit of the air cylinder 66 drives the air cylinder 66, the control unit of the voice coil motor 68 drives the voice coil motor 68, and the control units of the first servo motor 35, the fourth servo motor 62, and the fifth servo motor 67 drive the first servo motor 35, the fourth servo motor 62, and the fifth servo motor 67, so that a contour control movement is performed by NC control near the first side edge 15 of the glass sheet 12, and the cutting cutter wheel 69 cuts the vicinity of the first side edge 15 of the glass sheet 12.

[0125] By driving the air cylinder 66, the cutting cutter holder 70 (cutting device 57) moves toward the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 and descends toward the starting point of the outer cutting line formation, and a predetermined downward pressing force is applied to the cutting cutter wheel 69 abutting against the starting point of the outer cutting line formation on the glass plate 12 (cutter holder lowering means (cutter holder lowering process)).

[0126] After the cutting cutter holder 70 is lowered to the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 by the cutter holder lowering means (cutter holder lowering process), the first servo motor 35 drives the first moving unit 29 and the cutting device 57 to move in the front-to-back direction (rearward in the front-to-back direction) in the cutting processing area 21, the fourth servo motor 62 drives the cutting processing table 55 to move in the width direction (reciprocating), and the fifth servo motor 67 drives to change the cutting direction of the cutting cutter wheel 69, adjusting the angle of the cutting cutter wheel 69 around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane.

[0127] The voice coil motor 68 drives the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting device 57) to vibrate slightly so as to repeatedly advance and retreat from the start point of forming the outline cut line on the glass sheet 12 to the end point of forming the outline cut line, while gradually advancing from the start point of forming the outline cut line to the end point of forming the outline cut line, and the cutting cutter wheel 69 forms the outline cut line K1 on the glass sheet 12 (outline cut line forming means (outline cut line forming step)). The start point of forming the outline cut line on the glass sheet 12 and the end point of forming the outline cut line are the same.

[0128] In detail, the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) advances a predetermined distance in the direction of travel from the starting point of the outer cut line formation on the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12, advances the predetermined distance, then retreats a predetermined return distance in the opposite direction to the direction of travel, retreats the predetermined return distance, advances a predetermined distance in the direction of travel that is longer than the predetermined return distance, advances a predetermined distance that is longer than the predetermined return dimension, retreats in the opposite direction, retreats the predetermined return distance, and then advances a predetermined distance in the direction of travel that is longer than the predetermined return dimension, while advancing and retreating, the cutting cutter wheel 57 forms an outer cut line K1 of a predetermined depth from the starting point of the outer cut line formation on the glass plate 12 to the end point of the outer cut line formation, from the upper surface 13 to the lower surface 14 of the glass plate 12.

[0129] In addition, in the contour cut line forming system 10 (cutting processing method), the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) repeats retreating in the opposite direction by a predetermined return dimension and advancing in the forward direction by a dimension less than the predetermined return dimension two or more times, then advances in the forward direction by a predetermined advance dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, advances by a predetermined advance dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, and then advances in the opposite direction by a predetermined return dimension and advances in the forward direction by a dimension less than the predetermined return dimension two or more times, while advancing and retreating, the cutter wheel 69 forms a contour cut line K1 of a predetermined depth from the starting point of the contour cut line formation on the glass plate 12 to the end point of the contour cut line formation on the glass plate 12, from the top surface 13 to the bottom surface 14 of the glass plate 12.

[0130] In the contour cut line forming system 10 (cutting processing method), the advance dimension in the advancing direction and the return dimension in the opposite direction of the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) are in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm, and the advance speed in the advancing direction of the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) is in the range of 2 m / min to 30 m / min. If the advance dimension in the advancing direction and the return dimension in the opposite direction of the cutter wheel 69 are less than 0.5 mm and the advance speed in the advancing direction of the cutter wheel 69 is less than 2 m / min, the advance speed in the advancing direction of the cutter wheel 69 will be slow, and the contour cut line K1 cannot be quickly formed in the glass sheet 12. If the advance dimension of the cutting cutter wheel 69 in the forward direction and the return dimension in the reverse direction exceed 1.2 mm and the forward speed of the cutting cutter wheel 69 in the forward direction exceeds 30 m / min, the forward and reverse movements in the forward and reverse directions will be insufficient, and it may not be possible to form a contour cutting line K1 of sufficient depth in the glass plate 12.

[0131] In the contour cut line forming system 10 (cutting processing method), the advance dimension in the direction of advancement of the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) and the return dimension in the opposite direction are within the above-mentioned ranges, and the advance speed of the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) in the direction of advancement is within the above-mentioned ranges, so that the cutter wheel 69 advances and retreats repeatedly along the above-mentioned dimensions on the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 while vibrating slightly, gradually advancing to form contour cut lines K1 of a predetermined depth, and the depth of the contour cut lines K1 does not become shallower, so that contour cut lines K1 (scribes) of sufficient depth extending from the upper surface 13 to the lower surface 14 of the glass plate 12 can be reliably formed, and the contour cut lines K1 can be quickly formed on the glass plate 12.

[0132] In the contour cut line forming system 10 (cutting processing method), the vibration frequency of the voice coil motor 68 is in the range of 35 Hz to 400 Hz, and the advancement of the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) in the forward direction and the retreat in the opposite direction are performed by the vibration of 35 to 400 Hz of the voice coil motor 68. If the vibration frequency of the voice coil motor 68 is less than 35 Hz, the advancement and retreat in the forward and reverse directions will be insufficient, and it may not be possible to form contour cut lines K1 of sufficient depth in the glass sheet 12.

[0133] In the contour cut line forming system 10 (cutting processing method), the advancement and retreat of the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) in the direction of travel and in the opposite direction are performed by the vibration of 35 to 400 Hz of the voice coil motor 68, so that the cutter wheel 69 gradually advances while repeatedly vibrating slightly forward and backward on the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 with a vibration of 35 to 400 Hz, thereby forming contour cut lines K1 of a predetermined depth, and the depth of the contour cut lines K1 does not become shallow, and contour cut lines K1 of sufficient depth can be formed from the upper surface 13 to the lower surface 14 of the glass plate 12.

[0134] In the contour cut line forming system 10 (cutting processing method), the pressure (pressing force) with which the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) lowered by the air cylinder 66 presses against the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 is in the range of 0.1 MPs or more and 0.3 MPs or less. If the pressure is less than 0.1 MPs, the pressure of the cutter wheel 69 against the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 is small, and contour cut lines K1 of sufficient depth extending from the upper surface 13 to the lower surface 14 of the glass plate 12 cannot be formed.

[0135] The contour cut line forming system 10 (cutting processing method) allows the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 57) to repeatedly move forward and backward while pressing the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 with sufficient pressure within the above-mentioned range, and the cutter wheel 69 can reliably form a contour cut line K1 of sufficient depth extending from the upper surface 13 to the lower surface 14 of the glass plate 12.

[0136] The cutting cutter wheel 69 moves forward and backward repeatedly, vibrating slightly, and gradually advances, moving from the first corner 19a to the second corner 19b of the glass plate 12 while forming an outline cutting line K1 in the area near the first side edge 15 of the glass plate 12 (the peripheral area 56b of the glass plate 12). After the notching cutter wheel 69 moves to the second corner 19b of the glass plate 12, the fourth servo motor 62 drives the notching processing table 55 to move in the width direction in the notching processing area 21, the first servo motor 35 drives the notching cutter wheel 69 to move back and forth (reciprocate) in the notching processing area 21, the fifth servo motor 67 drives the notching direction of the notching cutter wheel 69 to adjust, and the voice coil motor 68 drives the notching cutter wheel 69 to repeatedly move forward and backward, vibrating slightly while gradually moving forward to form an outline notch K1 in the area near the rear edge 18 of the glass plate 12 (peripheral area 56b of the glass plate 12) (outline notch line forming means (outline notch line forming process)).

[0137] The cutting cutter wheel 69 moves forward and backward repeatedly, vibrating slightly, and gradually advances, moving from the second corner 19b to the third corner 19dc of the glass plate 12 while forming an outline cutting line K1 in the area near the rear edge 18 of the glass plate 12. After the notching cutter wheel 69 moves to the third corner 19c of the glass plate 12, the fourth servo motor 62 drives the notching processing table 55 to move in the width direction in the notching processing area 21, the first servo motor 35 drives the notching cutter wheel 69 to move back and forth (reciprocate) in the notching processing area 21, the fifth servo motor 67 drives the notching direction of the notching cutter wheel 69 to adjust, and the voice coil motor 68 drives the notching cutter wheel 69 to repeatedly move forward and backward, vibrating slightly while gradually moving forward to form an outline notch K1 in the area near the second side edge 16 of the glass plate 12 (peripheral area 56b of the glass plate 12) (outline notch line forming means (outline notch line forming process)).

[0138] The cutting cutter wheel 69 moves forward and backward repeatedly, vibrating slightly, and gradually advances, moving from the third corner 19c toward the fourth corner 19d of the glass plate 12 while forming an outline cutting line K1 in the area near the second side edge 16 of the glass plate 12. After the cutting cutter wheel 69 moves to the fourth corner 19d of the glass plate 12, the cutting processing table 55 moves in the width direction in the cutting processing area 21 by driving the fourth servo motor 62, the cutting cutter wheel 69 moves back and forth (reciprocates) in the cutting processing area 21 by driving the first servo motor 35, the cutting direction of the cutting cutter wheel 69 is adjusted by driving the fifth servo motor 67, and the cutting cutter wheel 69 gradually advances while repeatedly moving forward and backward by driving the voice coil motor 68, vibrating slightly, to form an outline cutting line K1 in the area near the front edge 17 of the glass plate 12 (peripheral area 56b of the glass plate 12) (outline cutting line forming means (outline cutting line forming process)).

[0139] The notching cutter wheel 69 gradually advances while repeatedly moving forward and backward and vibrating slightly, forming an outline cutting line K1 in the area near the front edge 17 of the glass sheet 12, and moves from the fourth corner 19d toward the first corner 19a of the glass sheet 12. When it reaches the outline cutting line formation end point (outline cutting line formation start point), the notching cutter wheel 69 finishes cutting the glass sheet 12. The controller sends an up signal to the air cylinder 66 of the notching device 57, and sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control units of the first servo motor 35, the fourth servo motor 62, the fifth servo motor 67, and the voice coil motor 68. The control units of the first servo motor 35, the fourth servo motor 62, the fifth servo motor 67, and the voice coil motor 68 stop the first servo motor 35, the fourth servo motor 62, the fifth servo motor 67, and the voice coil motor 68, and the control unit of the air cylinder 66 drives the air cylinder 66 to raise the cutting cutter holder 70 upward from the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 (cutter holder raising means (cutter holder raising process)).

[0140] Next, the controller sends a start signal (ON signal) to the control units of the first servo motor 35 and the fourth servo motor 62, and when the first servo motor 35 and the fourth servo motor 62 are started, the cutting processing table 55 moves in the width direction in the cutting processing area 21, the cutting cutter wheel 69 moves in the front-to-back direction in the cutting processing area 21, and the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting device 57) moves outward in the width direction of the first corner 19a of the glass plate 12 (cutting processing standby position) and waits.

[0141] After the cutting process is completed for the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12, the second glass sheet holder 41b transports the cut-processed glass sheet 12 from the cutting area 21 to the bending / splitting area 22, and the cut-processed glass sheet 12 is placed on the bending / splitting table 75. In the bending / splitting area 22, a plurality of edge cutting lines K2 are formed in the peripheral area 56b extending outside the outline cutting lines K1 of the cut-processed glass sheet 12, and the edge cutting lines K2 of the glass sheet 12 surrounded by the outline cutting lines K1 and the edge cutting lines K2 are bent and split.

[0142] During the cutting process, although not shown, the third glass plate holder 41c, which has moved to the cutting area 22, is lowered onto the cutting table 75 in the cutting area 22 by the pad lifting mechanism, the suction pad 43 of the third glass plate holder 41c comes into contact with the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 placed on the cutting table 75, and the vacuum mechanism is activated so that the suction pad 43 adsorbs the glass plate 12 while pressing the glass plate 12 downward. During the cutting process, the glass plate 12 is supported under pressure by the suction pad 43 of the third glass plate holder 41c.

[0143] After the glass plate 12 after cutting is placed on the bending and cutting processing table 75, the controller sends a drive signal (ON signal) to the control units of the first and second air cylinders 85a, 85b and the sixth to tenth servo motors 86, 88, 92, 93, 94 of the first and second bending and cutting devices 76a, 76b, and the control units of those air cylinders 85a, 85b and those servo motors 86, 88, 92, 93, 94 drive the air cylinders 85a, 85b and the servo motors 86, 88, 92, 93, 94.

[0144] The first and second bending / cutting devices 76a and 76b, driven by the air cylinders 85a and 85b and the servo motors 86, 88, 92, 93, and 94, have their pressure rollers 98 and bending / cutting cutter wheels 95 move in the front-to-back and width directions by the movement of the first and second X-axis actuators 87a and 87b and the first and second Y-axis actuators 89a and 89b, and the first and second bending / cutting jigs 84a and 84b are positioned at the first bending / cutting start position outside the width direction of the glass plate 12.

[0145] After the first and second folding and dividing jigs 84a, 84b are positioned at the folding start position, the first and second X-axis actuators 87, 87 and the first and second Y-axis actuators 89, 89 are movable to move the first and second folding and dividing jigs 84a, 84b, and the folding cutter wheel 96 of the first folding and dividing jig 84a moves to the edge cutting line formation start point near the outline cut line at the first corner 19 of the glass sheet 12, and the folding cutter wheel 96 of the second folding and dividing jig 84b moves to the edge cutting line formation start point near the outline cut line at the fourth corner 19 of the glass sheet 12. Next, the sixth servo motor 86 is driven to rotate the folding cutter holder 95 in the circumferential direction (direction around the axis) about the cutter holder central axis, so that the rolling direction of the periphery of the folding cutter wheel 96 coincides with the traveling direction of the first and second folding and dividing jigs 84a, 84b.

[0146] After the rolling direction of the periphery of the cutting cutter wheel 95 and the traveling direction of the first and second cutting jigs 84a, 84b coincide with each other, the air cylinder 85a is operated to lower the cutting cutter holder 95 toward the upper surface 13 of the glass sheet 12 (cutter holder lowering means (cutter holder lowering step)). After the cutting cutter wheel 96 abuts against the upper surface 13 of the glass sheet 12 with a predetermined pressing force, the first and second X-axis actuators 87a, 87b and the first and second Y-axis actuators 89a, 89b are moved to move the first and second cutting jigs 84a, 84b, and the cutting cutter wheel 95 forms a linear first cutting line K2 (scribe) extending from the cutting line formation starting point toward the periphery of the glass sheet 12 (cutting line forming means (cutting line forming step)). In the edge cutting line forming means, the first bending and dividing jig 84a and the second bending and dividing jig 84b travel at the same speed. In a similar procedure, second to nth edge cutting lines K2 are formed in the peripheral area 56b extending outside the outline cut line K1 of the glass sheet 12.

[0147] In the edge cutting line forming means (edge ​​cutting line forming process), a support device (not shown) moves in synchronization with the first and second bending and cutting devices 76a, 76b, and the bending and cutting cutter wheels 96 of the first and second bending and cutting jigs 84a, 84b form an edge cutting line K2 in the peripheral area 56b of the glass plate 12, with the support surface of the support device supporting the underside 14 of the peripheral area 56b extending outside the outline cutting line K1 of the glass plate 12.

[0148] After the first to nth cutting lines K2 are formed, the first and second X-axis actuators 87a and 87b and the first and second Y-axis actuators 89a and 89b are moved to move the first and second bending and splitting jigs 84a and 84b to predetermined positions in the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12, and the support device is raised in the vertical direction so that the support surface of the support device abuts against the underside 14 of the glass sheet 12 inside the outline cutting lines K1. Next, the air cylinder 85b lowers the pressure roller 98 toward the upper side 13 of the glass sheet 12, and the pressure roller 98 abutting against the upper side 13 of the glass sheet 12 presses the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 downward, thereby bending and splitting the peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 extending from the main body 56a of the glass sheet 12 to the edge cutting lines K2 (bending and splitting means (bending and splitting process)). In a similar procedure, the entire peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 where the cutting line K2 is formed is bent and broken. The bent and broken (separated) peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 remains on the belt conveyor 77.

[0149] After the bending and splitting process is completed and the glass sheet 12 after the bending and splitting process is lifted upward by the third glass sheet holder 41c, the controller sends a drive signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the conveyor drive motor 78, which then drives the belt conveyor 77, causing the belt conveyor 77 to move from one side to the other in the width direction. As the belt conveyor 77 moves in the width direction, the broken peripheral area 56b of the glass sheet 12 remaining on the belt conveyor 77 gradually moves from one side to the other in the width direction, and the peripheral area 56b falls from the belt conveyor 77 to be stored in a dust box.

[0150] After the glass plate 12 has been cut, the third glass plate holder 41c transports the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 after the cutting process from the cutting area 22 to the grinding area 23, and the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 is placed on the grinding table 103. After the main body 56a is placed on the grinding table 103, the controller sends a drive signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the vacuum mechanism of the grinding table 103, and also sends a retreat signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the first servo motor 35. The control unit of the vacuum mechanism drives the vacuum mechanism, and the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 is sucked and held by the suction pad 105 (grinding table 103) due to the driving of the vacuum mechanism.

[0151] The control unit of the first servo motor 35 drives the first servo motor 35, and rotation of the shaft of the first servo motor 35 moves the first slide block in the front-to-rear direction from the front to the rear of the first guide frame 31, whereby the grinding device 104 moves rearward in the front-to-rear direction together with the first traveling frame 33 in the grinding processing area 23, and the grinding device 104 is positioned widthwise outward (at the grinding start position) of the first corner 19a (front edge 17) of the main body 56a of the glass plate 12. The grinding device 104 moves along the peripheral portion of the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 in synchronization with the cutting device 57.

[0152] After the grinding device 104 is positioned widthwise outside the first corner 19a of the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 (the grinding start position), the controller sends a stop signal (OFF signal) to the control unit of the first servo motor 35 and a drive signal (ON signal) to the control unit of the 11th servo motor 106, causing the control unit of the first servo motor 35 to stop the first servo motor 35 and the control unit of the 11th servo motor 106 to drive the 11th servo motor 106.

[0153] Rotation of the shaft of the eleventh servo motor 106 moves the slide block 64b widthwise on the feed screw 61b from the second side edge 49b toward the first side edge 49a of the grinding area 23, thereby moving the grinding table 103 widthwise from the second side edge 49b toward the first side edge 49a of the grinding area 23, and the grinding wheel 113 of the grinding device 104 is positioned at the first corner 19a of the main body 56a of the glass sheet 12. The first corner 19a of the main body 56a of the glass sheet 12 enters the slit 117 in the cover 115 of the grinding jig 107.

[0154] After the grinding wheel 113 of the grinding device 104 is positioned at the first corner 19a of the glass sheet 12, the controller sends an NC control signal to the control unit of the eleventh servo motor 106, and sends a drive signal (ON signal) and an NC control signal to the control unit of the first servo motor 35. Note that the spindle motor 116 is constantly driven before the glass sheet 12 is placed on the grinding table 103. The control units of the first and eleventh servo motors 35 and 106 drive the first and eleventh servo motors 35 and 106, the grinding device 104 performs contour control movement under NC control along the periphery of the main body 56a of the glass sheet 12, and the grinding wheel 113 grinds the periphery of the main body 56a of the glass sheet 12.

[0155] Specifically, upon receiving the activation signal (ON signal), the control unit of the first servo motor 35 drives the first servo motor 35 during grinding (cutting) to move the grinding device 104 rearward in the front-to-rear direction in the grinding area 23, and the control unit of the eleventh servo motor 106 drives the eleventh servo motor 106 during grinding (cutting) to reciprocate the grinding device 104 in the width direction in the grinding area 23. The grinding wheel 113 of the grinding device 104 moves from the first corner 19a toward the second corner 19b of the glass sheet 12 along the periphery (outline cutting line K1) of the main body 56a of the glass sheet 12, while grinding the edge between the first corner 19a and the second corner 19b of the main body 56a of the glass sheet 12 (grinding means (grinding process)).

[0156] After the grinding wheel 113 of the grinding device 104 has completed grinding the edge (first side edge 15) between the first corner 19a and the second corner 19b of the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 and the grinding wheel 113 is positioned at the second corner 19b of the main body 56a of the glass plate 12, the grinding table 103 moves widthwise from the side of the first side edge 49a of the grinding area 23 to the side of the second side edge 49b, and as the grinding table 103 moves widthwise, the grinding wheel 113 grinds the edge (rear edge 18) between the second corner 19b and the third corner 19c of the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 (grinding means (grinding process)).

[0157] During grinding (cutting), the first servo motor 35 and the eleventh servo motor 106 are driven to cause the grinding wheel 113 of the grinding device 104 to grind the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 along the periphery (external cutting line K1) of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12, while the grinding wheel 113 moves sequentially from the second corner 19b to the third corner 19c, the fourth corner 19d, and then to the first corner 19a of the main body portion 56a. When grinding of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 by the grinding wheel 113 is completed, the grinding device 104 moves outward in the width direction of the first corner 19a of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 (to the grinding start position) and waits.

[0158] After the grinding process of the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 is completed, the fourth glass plate holder 41d transports the ground main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 from the grinding process area 23 to the carry-out area 24. In the carry-out area 24, the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 that has been cut, broken, and ground is moved forward from the rear end of the carry-out area 24 to the front end by the carry-out conveyor 120, and the main body portion 56a of the glass plate 12 that has been processed is carried out of the carry-out area 24.

[0159] When the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 after each processing is positioned on the carry-out conveyor 120 in the carry-out area 24, the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 after grinding is positioned on the grinding table 103 in the grinding area 23, the main body 56a of the glass plate 12 after bending is positioned on the bending table 75 in the bending area 22, the glass plate 12 after cutting is positioned on the cutting table 55 in the cutting area 21, and the unprocessed glass plate 12 positioned by the first positioning means and the second positioning means is positioned on the carry-in conveyor 44 in the carry-in area 20. In this way, in the glass plate processing apparatus 11, a plurality of glass plates 12 are transported in order from the carry-in area 20 to the carry-out area 24, and the processing of the plurality of glass plates 12 is continuously performed.

[0160] The outline cut line forming system 10 and the cutting processing method include a cutter holder lowering means (cutter holder lowering step) that, when forming the outline cut line K1 on the glass plate 12, lowers the cutter wheel 69 (cutter cutter holder 70) toward the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12 and toward the outline cut line formation start point by using an air cylinder 66 (lifting mechanism), and applies a predetermined downward pressing force to the cutter wheel 69; and a cutter holder lowering means (cutter holder lowering step) that adjusts the angle of the cutter wheel 69 around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane, and lowers the cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 65) from the outline cut line formation start point on the glass plate 12 toward the outline cut line formation end point. The cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 65) is advanced while being slightly vibrated so as to repeatedly advance and retreat, and an outline incision line forming means (outline incision line forming process) is carried out in which the cutting cutter wheel 69 forms outline incisions in the glass plate 12. Therefore, the depth of the outline incision lines K1 does not become shallower because the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 65) forms outline incisions K1 while reciprocating on the upper surface 13 of the glass plate 12, and outline incision lines K1 (scribes) of sufficient depth can be reliably formed in the glass plate 12 by the outline incision line forming means (outline incision line forming process) in which the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 65) is advanced while being slightly vibrated so as to repeatedly advance and retreat.

[0161] The contour score line forming system 10 and the cutting method can smoothly and reliably break the glass sheet 12 at the contour score line K1, can neatly bend and break the glass sheet 12 at the contour score line K1, and can process the glass sheet 12 into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the contour score line K1. When the contour score line forming system 10 and the cutting method advance and retreat so as to repeat two or more times a retreat in the opposite direction by a predetermined return dimension and an advance in the forward direction by an advance dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension, the cutting cutter wheel 69 (cutting jig 65) advances and retreats slightly over the upper surface 13 of the glass sheet 12, repeating two or more times, and gradually advances, thereby reliably forming contour score lines K1 of sufficient depth. [Explanation of symbols]

[0162] 10 Outline cutting line forming system 11 Glass plate processing equipment 12 Glass Plate 13 Top side 14 Bottom side 15 1st side edge 16 Second side edge 17 Front edge 18 Rear edge 19a to 19d 1st to 4th corners 20 Loading area 21 Cutting area 22 Folding processing area 23 Grinding area 24 Unloading Area 25 Transport mechanism 26 Machine stand 27a, 27b First and second pillars 28 Fixed Frame 29 First Mobile Unit 30 Second Mobile Unit 31 First guide frame 32 First guide rail 33 First running frame 34 First guide shoe 35 First servo motor 36 Second guide frame 37 Second guide rail 38 Second running frame 39 Second guide shoe 40 Second servo motor 41a to 41d Glass plate holders 1 to 4 42 Pad installation plate 43 Suction pad 44 Incoming conveyor 45 Stopper 46 Roller 46a Roller 47 Roller lifting mechanism 48 Moving mechanism 49a 1st side edge 49b Second side edge 50 axes 51 Rod 52 Third servo motor 53 Moving Arm 54 Contact member 55 Cutting table 56a Main body 56b Peripheral Area 57 Cutting device 58a, 58b base lanes 59a, 59b First and second moving mechanisms 60a, 60b Travel guide rail 61a, 61b Lead screw 62 4th servo motor 63a, 63b Guide shoe 64a, 64b Slide block (housing nut) 65 Cutting jig 66 Air Cylinder 67 5th servo motor 68 Voice coil motor 69 Cutting cutter wheel 70 Cutting cutter holder 71 Cutter lifting shaft 72 Support shaft 73 Bracket 74 Timing belt 75 Folding processing table 76 Folding device 76a, 76b First and second folding devices 77 Conveyor Belt 78 Conveyor drive motor 79 Belt 80 pulley 81 Carrier roller 82 Conveyor Frame 83 Suspension Frame 84a, 84b First and second folding jigs 85a, 85b First and second air cylinders 86 6th servo motor 87a X-axis first actuator 87b X-axis second actuator 88 7th servo motor 89a Y-axis first actuator 89b Y-axis second actuator 90a X-axis 1st actuator frame 90b X-axis second actuator frame 91a Y-axis No. 1 actuator frame 91b Y-axis second actuator frame 92 8th servo motor 93 9th servo motor 94 10th Servo Motor 95 Breaking cutter holder 96 Breaking cutter wheel 97 Holder lifting mechanism 98 Pressure roller 99 Roller lifting shaft 100 Support shaft 101 Bracket 102 Timing belt 103 Grinding table 104 Grinding equipment 105 suction pad 106 11th Servo Motor 107 Grinding jig 108 12th Servo Motor 109 13th Servo Motor 110 14th Servo Motor 111 Grinding wheel lifting screw 112 Grinding wheel cutting screw 113 Grinding Wheel 114 Grinding holder 115 Cover 116 Spindle motor 117 Slit 118 Motor housing 119 Bracket 120 Discharge Conveyor K1 Outline cut line K2 edge cutting line L1 Positioning first reference L2 Second positioning reference O1 Center of the lateral edge in the anterior-posterior direction

Claims

1. 1. An outline score forming system for forming an outline score of a predetermined depth in a glass plate to be processed from an upper surface to a lower surface of the glass plate using a scoring jig, The cutting jig is characterized in that it repeatedly moves forward and backward from the starting point of the outline cutting line formation on the glass plate toward the end point of the outline cutting line formation, vibrating slightly, while gradually moving forward toward the end point of the outline cutting line formation, thereby forming the outline cutting line on the glass plate.

2. 2. The contour score forming system according to claim 1, wherein the cutting jig advances a predetermined advance distance in the direction of advance from the starting point of the contour score formation in the advancement direction, advances the predetermined advance distance, then retreats a predetermined return distance in the direction opposite to the advancement direction, advances in the advancement direction by a predetermined advance distance that is longer than the predetermined return distance, advances a predetermined advance distance that is longer than the predetermined return dimension, then retreats in the opposite direction by the predetermined return distance, then retreats the predetermined return dimension, and then advances in the advancement direction by a predetermined advance distance that is longer than the predetermined return dimension, while advancing and retreating in the advancement direction from the starting point of the contour score formation in the glass plate to the end point of the contour score formation.

3. 3. The contour cut line forming system according to claim 2, wherein the cutting jig repeats retreating in the reverse direction by a predetermined return dimension and advancing in the forward direction by a dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension at least two times, then advances in the forward direction by a predetermined advance dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, advances by a predetermined advance dimension longer than the predetermined return dimension, and then advances and retracts so as to repeat retreating in the reverse direction by the predetermined return dimension and advancing in the forward direction by a dimension equal to or less than the predetermined return dimension at least two times, thereby forming the contour cut line on the glass plate from the contour cut line formation start point to the contour cut line formation end point.

4. The advance dimension of the cutting jig in the forward direction and the return dimension in the reverse direction are in the range of 0.5 to 1.2 mm, and the advance speed of the cutting jig in the forward direction is in the range of 2 to 30 m / min. An outline cutting line forming system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The contour cutting line forming system according to claim 4, wherein the advancement of the cutting jig in the direction of advancement and the retreat in the opposite direction are performed by vibration of 35 to 400 Hz.

6. The contour cut line forming system according to claim 5, wherein the pressure with which the cutting jig presses the upper surface of the glass plate is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 MPa.

7. 7. The outline cut line forming system according to claim 1, wherein the cutting jig is used in an cutting device that performs contour control movement under NC control to process the glass plate into a predetermined planar shape surrounded by the outline cut line.

8. 8. The outline score forming system according to claim 7, wherein the cutting jig has a cutting cutter wheel and a cutting cutter holder supporting the cutting cutter wheel, and the cutting device has a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the cutting cutter holder in an up and down direction, and when forming the outline score lines on the glass plate, the lifting mechanism lowers the cutting cutter holder toward the upper surface of the glass plate and toward the outline score line formation start point, thereby applying a predetermined downward pressing force to the cutting cutter wheel.

9. The outline score forming system according to claim 7, further comprising: a cutter holder lowering means for adjusting the angle of the cutting cutter wheel around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane, and advancing the cutting device while vibrating it slightly so as to repeatedly advance and retreat from the outline score line formation start point on the glass plate toward the outline score line formation end point, thereby forming the outline score lines on the glass plate by the cutting cutter wheel.

9. A cutting method for forming contour cut lines of a predetermined depth from an upper surface to a lower surface of a glass plate to be processed, using a cutting device including a cutting cutter wheel, a cutting cutter holder supporting the cutting cutter wheel, and an elevating mechanism for applying a predetermined downward pressing force to the cutting cutter wheel, the cutting method comprises: a cutter holder lowering step of lowering the cutting cutter holder toward the upper surface of the glass plate and toward the starting point of the outline cutting line formation, thereby applying a predetermined downward pressing force to the cutting cutter wheel, when forming an outline cutting line on the glass plate; and a contour cutting line forming step of advancing the cutting device while vibrating it slightly so that it repeatedly moves forward and backward from the starting point of the outline cutting line formation on the glass plate toward an end point of the outline cutting line formation, while adjusting the angle of the cutting cutter wheel around an axis perpendicular to the XY plane, thereby forming the outline cutting line on the glass plate by the cutting cutter wheel.

Images