Glass plate manufacturing equipment

Abstract

To adequately make a direction of a glass plate during a fall when the glass plate cut out by breaking a glass ribbon is fallen.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus 1 of a glass plate cutting out a part 3 to be cut-out as a glass plate 4 by breaking a glass ribbon 2 includes a breaking mechanism 8 for breaking the glass ribbon 2 while the part 3 to be cut-out is held. The breaking mechanism 8 includes a holding member 10 that holds each of one side edge part 3a and the other edge part 3a in a width direction of the part 3 to be cut-out and releases a holding state. The holding member 10 can switch between a closed state where the part 3 to be cut-out is held by clamping an edge part 3a corresponding to the part 3 to be cut-out and an open state where the holding state of a corresponding edge 3a is released. The breaking mechanism 8 further includes a regulation member 12 for regulating a displacement of the part 3 to be cut-out in a longitudinal direction by contacting with the part 3 to be cut-out during a fall when switching to the open state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a glass sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] As is well known, one method for producing a glass sheet is to cut a glass sheet from a glass ribbon formed by a down-draw method by bending and breaking the glass ribbon while conveying it downward in a vertical position. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a specific form of the method.

[0003] In the embodiment disclosed in the document, a scribe line is first formed along a planned cutting line extending in the width direction on one side of a glass ribbon being conveyed downward in a vertical position. Then, while the glass ribbon is supported from the other side by a fulcrum bar, the part including the planned cutting line is curved so that the one side is convex, using the fulcrum bar as a fulcrum. As a result, the glass ribbon is bent and cut along the planned cutting line.

[0004] When bending and breaking the glass ribbon, a portion to be cut out (a portion to be cut out as a glass sheet) of the glass ribbon that is below the planned cutting line is held by a bending and breaking arm. The bending and breaking arm includes a chuck that holds one widthwise end of the portion to be cut out, and a chuck that holds the other widthwise end. Each chuck has a pair of claws that clamp the end from the front and back. The pair of claws can be switched between a closed state in which the end is clamped and held, and an open state in which the held state of the end is released and the claws are retracted widthwise outward from the closed state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-90446 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When a cut-out portion (glass sheet) cut out from a glass ribbon has defects such as chips or cracks that render it unsuitable for use as a product, the cut-out portion may be released from its holding state by the break-and-break arm and dropped and discarded after cutting. In detail, a pair of claws of a chuck that holds one end of the cut-out portion and a chuck that holds the other end of the cut-out portion are switched from a closed state to an open state to release the holding state of the cut-out portion by the break-and-break arm. However, when dropping and discarding the cut-out portion, if the glass sheet does not fall in an appropriate direction, this may result in damage to manufacturing equipment such as a chute for discarding the glass sheet and the claws of the chuck.

[0007] As described above, the reasons why the glass plate does not fall in the appropriate direction are as follows. When releasing the holding state of the portion to be cut out by the breaking arm, a pair of claws is simultaneously switched from a closed state to an open state between a chuck holding one end and a chuck holding the other end. However, it is extremely difficult to perfectly synchronize the switching timing between the two without any misalignment. Therefore, a timing misalignment causes the portion to be cut out to fall in an inappropriate direction.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, a technical problem to be solved is how to appropriately orient a glass sheet cut by bending a glass ribbon during dropping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A glass plate manufacturing apparatus for solving the above problem is an apparatus for cutting out a portion to be cut out from a glass ribbon as a glass plate by bending and breaking a glass ribbon being transported downward in a vertical position and cutting it in the width direction, the apparatus comprising a bending and breaking mechanism for bending and breaking the glass ribbon while holding the portion to be cut out, the bending and breaking mechanism comprising holding members for holding and releasing each of one side end and the other side end in the width direction of the portion to be cut out, the pair of holding members being switchable between a closed state in which corresponding ends of the portion to be cut out are clamped and held, and an open state in which the holding state of the corresponding ends is released, and the bending and breaking mechanism further comprises a regulating member for contacting the portion to be cut out as it falls and regulating the lateral displacement of the portion to be cut out when switched to the open state.

[0010] In this device, when the cut-out portion (glass plate) is dropped after being cut from the glass ribbon, a regulating member comes into contact with the cut-out portion as it falls and regulates its lateral displacement, making it possible to appropriately orient the cut-out portion as it falls.

[0011] In the above configuration, it is preferable that the regulating member comes into contact with an end face in the width direction of the part to be cut out while it is falling, thereby regulating displacement of the part to be cut out in the width direction.

[0012] This makes it possible to prevent the cut-out portion from colliding with a component of the glass plate manufacturing apparatus and causing damage to the component due to displacement of the cut-out portion in the width direction while falling.

[0013] In the above configuration, it is preferable that the holding member includes a chuck for holding the corresponding end portion, the chucks are provided in a plurality of upper and lower stages, and the regulating member is disposed above the chuck in the lowest stage.

[0014] According to this device, the direction of the glass plate during the fall can be appropriately adjusted, so that damage to the chuck caused by collision with the portion to be cut during the fall can be avoided.

[0015] In the above configuration, it is preferable that the regulating member is a roller having a peripheral surface that contacts the end face.

[0016] In this way, since the regulating member is a roller, the direction in which the cut-out portion falls can be adjusted appropriately, and the cut-out portion can be smoothly dropped. Furthermore, by using a roller as the regulating member, it is also possible to reduce equipment costs.

[0017] In the above configuration, the regulating member is movable between a regulating position for regulating displacement of the cut-out portion in the width direction and a detached position spaced apart widthwise outward from the regulating position, and it is preferable that the regulating member moves to the regulating position before releasing the holding state by the holding member when dropping the cut-out portion.

[0018] In this way, it is possible to keep the regulating member on standby at the separated position except when the cut-out portion is to be dropped. Therefore, the regulating member does not interfere with the production of the glass sheet except when the cut-out portion is to be dropped.

[0019] In the above configuration, a regulating member that contacts one widthwise end face of the cut-out portion and a regulating member that contacts the other widthwise end face are provided in a pair, and it is preferable that both regulating members of the pair be arranged at the same height position.

[0020] In this way, at the same height position where both regulating members are arranged, it is possible to regulate the displacement of the cut-out portion to one widthwise side and to the other widthwise side, thereby making it possible to appropriately adjust the direction in which the cut-out portion falls. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present disclosure, when a glass sheet cut by bending a glass ribbon is dropped, the direction of the glass sheet during the drop can be adjusted appropriately. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the periphery of a chuck provided in the glass plate manufacturing apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the periphery of a straightening member provided in the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view showing the periphery of a chuck, a straightening member, and a regulating member provided in the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a straightening member provided in the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a straightening member provided in the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a straightening member provided in the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a straightening member provided in the glass sheet manufacturing apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, a glass plate manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in each drawing referred to in the description of the embodiment are directions perpendicular to each other.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 1, a glass plate manufacturing apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as manufacturing apparatus 1) is an apparatus for cutting a cut portion 3 from the glass ribbon 2 as a glass plate 4 by bending and breaking a glass ribbon 2 being transported downward in a vertical position and cutting it in the width direction (X direction).

[0025] The glass ribbon 2 is a band-like glass formed by a down-draw method (for example, an overflow down-draw method, etc.). A planned cutting line 5 extends along the width direction of the glass ribbon 2, and a scribe line is later formed on one surface 2a of the glass ribbon 2 along the planned cutting line 5. The portion to be cut out 3 is a portion of the glass ribbon 2 that is located below the planned cutting line 5. The portion to be cut out 3 is cut out as the glass ribbon 2 is bent and split along the planned cutting line 5, to become a rectangular glass plate 4.

[0026] In the following description, the portion to be cut 3 before being cut out from the glass ribbon 2 will be referred to as the "portion to be cut 3," and the portion to be cut 3 after being cut out from the glass ribbon 2 will be referred to as the "glass plate 4" to distinguish between them.

[0027] The glass ribbon 2 includes a useful portion 6 located in the center in the width direction, and non-useful portions 7 located at both ends in the width direction, sandwiching the useful portion 6. The useful portion 6 is a portion that will later become a product glass sheet, and the non-useful portions 7 are portions that will not become the product glass sheet and will be discarded. The thickness of the useful portion 6 is, for example, 1.0 mm or less. In FIG. 1, the boundary between the useful portion 6 and the non-useful portion 7 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0028] The manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a bending and breaking mechanism 8 for bending and breaking the glass ribbon 2 while holding the cut-out portion 3. When bending and breaking the glass ribbon 2, the bending and breaking mechanism 8 has a function of curving a portion of the glass ribbon 2 including the planned cutting line 5 so that one surface 2a side is convex, and applying a bending stress to the portion.

[0029] The breaking mechanism 8 includes a fulcrum member 9 that supports the glass ribbon 2 from the other side 2b side and serves as a fulcrum for breaking, a holding member 10 that moves from one side 2a side of the glass ribbon 2 toward the other side 2b side while holding the portion to be cut 3, thereby curving the portion including the planned cutting line 5, a correction member 11 that corrects misalignment of the portion to be cut 3 in the thickness direction (Z direction) prior to being held by the holding member 10, and a regulating member 12 that regulates displacement of the glass plate 4 in the width direction as it falls for disposal when the glass plate 4 cut from the glass ribbon 2 is discarded.

[0030] The breaking mechanism 8 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction (Y direction) by an elevator device (not shown). When breaking the glass ribbon 2, the breaking mechanism 8 descends following the glass ribbon 2 at the same speed as the downward transport speed of the glass ribbon 2. This prevents a change in the relative positional relationship between the breaking mechanism 8 and the glass ribbon 2 in the vertical direction when the glass ribbon 2 is broken.

[0031] The fulcrum member 9 is formed so as to be long along the width direction of the glass ribbon 2. The position of the fulcrum member 9 is changeable along the thickness direction of the glass ribbon 2. Specifically, the fulcrum member 9 is capable of moving between a contact position where it contacts the other surface 2b of the glass ribbon 2 and a standby position away from the glass ribbon 2. The fulcrum member 9 is present at the contact position when the glass ribbon 2 is being broken, and is present at the standby position when the glass ribbon 2 is not being broken.

[0032] The holding member 10 has the following functions (1) to (3): (1) a function of holding the portion to be cut 3 before and during bending and breaking the glass ribbon 2, (2) a function of holding the glass plate 4 after bending and breaking the glass ribbon 2, and (3) a function of releasing the held state of the glass plate 4 as necessary. If the glass plate 4 cut from the glass ribbon 2 has a defect that would render it a product, such as a chip or crack, the holding member 10 releases the held state of the glass plate 4. This allows the glass plate 4 to fall freely from the bending and breaking mechanism 8 and be discarded.

[0033] The holding member 10 has a pair of arms 13, 13 facing each other on one side and the other side in the width direction of the cut-out portion 3. Each of the pair of arms 13, 13 has an arm body 14 extending in the vertical direction, and chucks 15 attached to the arm body 14 while being arranged in multiple vertical stages (five stages in this embodiment). The multiple chucks 15 provided on one and the other of the pair of arms 13, 13 are used to hold the end portion 3a on one side in the width direction of the cut-out portion 3 and the end portion 3a on the other side in the width direction, respectively.

[0034] Here, the multiple chucks 15 for holding the end 3a on one side in the width direction and the multiple chucks 15 for holding the end 3a on the other side in the width direction are configured to essentially release the held state of the glass sheet 4 at the same time when the glass sheet 4 is discarded as described above. However, since it is extremely difficult to release the held state of the glass sheet 4 at exactly the same time, a difference inevitably occurs in the timing at which the held state is released. Due to this difference, the glass sheet 4 falls while being displaced in the width direction (falls obliquely) instead of falling straight down. To address this problem, the manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided with a regulating member 12 in the bending and splitting mechanism 8 (details of the regulating member 12 will be described later).

[0035] Please refer to Fig. 2. Each chuck 15 provided on the holding member 10 has a pair of claws 16, 16 that sandwich the end 3a of the cut-out portion 3 from the front and back, and a cylinder 17 that serves as a drive source for opening and closing the pair of claws 16, 16. Here, in this embodiment, the cylinder 17 is used as the drive source, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a servo motor, an electromagnetic actuator, or the like may also be used as the drive source.

[0036] The pair of claws 16, 16 can be switched between a closed state (a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) in which the end portion 3a is sandwiched and held, and an open state (a state shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) in which the end portion 3a is released from its holding state and retracted widthwise outward from the closed state. The pair of claws 16, 16 in the open state are located widthwise outward from the pass line of the cut-out portion 3 (the line through which the cut-out portion 3 passes when conveyed to the folding mechanism 8). The tip of each of the pair of claws 16, 16 is provided with a contact portion 16a (not shown in the drawings other than FIG. 2) that comes into direct contact with the end portion 3a of the cut-out portion 3. The contact portion 16a is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example.

[0037] The pair of claws 16, 16 can capture and hold the cut-out portion 3 (end 3a) at the normal position P1. Here, the "normal position P1" is the position where the cut-out portion 3 exists in the thickness direction when no warpage occurs in the glass ribbon 2. The pair of claws 16, 16 can capture and hold the cut-out portion 3 if the positional deviation of the cut-out portion 3 in the thickness direction from the normal position P1 is within an allowable range. However, for example, as in the case where the cut-out portion 3 (end 3a) exists at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, if the positional deviation of the cut-out portion 3 due to warpage exceeds the allowable range, the pair of claws 16, 16 cannot capture (sandwich) the cut-out portion 3. To address this problem, the present manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided with a straightening member 11 in the folding mechanism 8 (details of the straightening member 11 will be described later).

[0038] Please refer to FIG. 1. The arm body 14 is capable of rotating about an axis extending in the X direction. The arm body 14 can take a vertical position parallel to the up-down direction and an inclined position inclined with respect to the vertical position as a result of the rotating movement, and can switch between the two positions. When breaking the glass ribbon 2, the position of the arm body 14 transitions from the vertical position to the inclined position while each chuck 15 holds the portion to be cut 3. As a result, the arm body 14 moves from one surface 2a side toward the other surface 2b side of the glass ribbon 2, thereby curving a portion of the glass ribbon 2 including the planned cutting line 5.

[0039] The straightening members 11 are attached to each of a pair of arms 13, 13. In each arm 13, the straightening members 11 are arranged in multiple vertical stages (two vertical stages in this embodiment). Between one and the other of the pair of arms 13, 13, the straightening members 11 are present at the same height position. In addition, the straightening members 11 are arranged below the chuck 15 in the uppermost stage and above the chuck 15 in the lowermost stage. In this embodiment, the number of straightening members 11 is less than the number of chucks 15.

[0040] Here, as a modification of this embodiment, only a single straightening member 11 may be arranged on each arm 13, or three or more straightening members 11 may be arranged vertically. Furthermore, the height positions of the straightening members 11 may be shifted between one and the other of a pair of arms 13, 13. Furthermore, the positional relationship and the quantitative relationship between the chucks 15 and the straightening members 11 may be different from those of this embodiment. In addition, the chucks 15 and the straightening members 11 may be arranged regularly. As an example, one straightening member 11 is arranged for two stages of chucks 15. Furthermore, the straightening members 11 may be arranged above the chuck 15 of the uppermost stage.

[0041] Please refer to Fig. 3. The correcting member 11 has a function of correcting a positional deviation in the thickness direction of the cut-out portion 3 from a normal position P1 so that the pair of claw portions 16, 16 can capture and hold the cut-out portion 3 (end portion 3a). The correcting member 11 has a pair of guides 18, 18 that are paired on the front and back of the cut-out portion 3, and a cylinder 19 that serves as a drive source for causing the pair of guides 18, 18 to perform an opening and closing operation. Here, in this embodiment, the cylinder 19 is used as the drive source, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a servo motor, an electromagnetic actuator, or the like may be used as the drive source.

[0042] As the pair of guides 18, 18 approach each other with the normal position P1 therebetween, the pair of guides 18, 18 correct the positional deviation of the cut-out portion 3. In this embodiment, each of the pair of guides 18, 18 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0043] In detail, the pair of guides 18, 18 can be switched between an opposing state (a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 3) in which they face each other on the front and back of the end 3a of the cut-out portion 3, and a retracted state (a state shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) in which they are retracted to the outside of the pass line of the cut-out portion 3 in the width direction. The pair of guides 18, 18 move from the retracted state to the opposing state by closing operation, so that the two guides 18, 18 approach each other and correct the positional deviation. At this time, the guide 18 guides the cut-out portion 3 to the normal position P1 while contacting the end 3a of the cut-out portion 3. Of the straightening members 11 arranged in two levels, the pair of guides 18, 18 move from the upper level straightening member 11 to the lower level straightening member 11 in order, and move from the retracted state to the opposing state.

[0044] The speed at which the pair of guides 18, 18 approach each other can be adjusted according to the conveying speed of the glass ribbon 2. For example, when the conveying speed of the glass ribbon 2 is relatively fast, the speed at which the pair of guides 18, 18 approach each other can be increased, and when the conveying speed of the glass ribbon 2 is relatively slow, the speed at which the pair of guides 18, 18 approach each other can be decreased. In addition, the timing at which the pair of guides 18, 18 transition from the retreated state to the facing state can also be adjusted. For example, when the cut-out portion 3 is carried into the folding and breaking mechanism 8 for folding and breaking the glass ribbon 2, the pair of guides 18, 18 may transition from the retreated state to the facing state after the entirety of the cut-out portion 3 (the entire length in the vertical direction) has been carried in. In addition, the pair of guides 18, 18 may transition from the retreated state to the facing state when the cut-out portion 3 passes through the height position at which the pair of guides 18, 18 are arranged.

[0045] The mutual distance D (mutual distance in an opposing state) when the pair of guides 18, 18 are closest to each other is longer than the thickness dimension of the cut-out portion 3 (effective portion 6). As a result, even when the pair of guides 18, 18 are closest to each other, a gap is ensured between at least one of the pair of guides 18, 18 and the end portion 3a of the cut-out portion 3. Here, the mutual distance D is preferably 3 to 50 times the thickness dimension of the cut-out portion 3. This is from the viewpoint of preventing the end portion 3a of the cut-out portion 3 from being restricted from the front and back by the pair of guides 18, 18 while accurately guiding the cut-out portion 3 to the regular position P1.

[0046] When the correction of the positional deviation of the cut-out portion 3 is completed as described above, the pair of claw portions 16, 16 transitions from the open state to the closed state, and the pair of claw portions 16, 16 holds the cut-out portion 3. After the pair of claw portions 16, 16 hold the cut-out portion 3, the pair of guides 18, 18 transitions from the opposing state to the retracted state by the opening operation, and both guides 18, 18 retract to the outside in the width direction while moving away from each other. Note that, among the correction members 11 arranged in two tiers, the pair of guides 18, 18 move away from the upper correction member 11 to the lower correction member 11 in that order, and transition from the opposing state to the retracted state.

[0047] 2 to 4. When viewed in the vertical direction (when viewed from the Y direction), the claw portion 16 and the guide 18 are compared, and the length L2 of the guide 18 is longer than the length L1 of the claw portion 16. Here, the length L2 is preferably more than 1 time and not more than 5 times the length L1 as a reference. Meanwhile, in terms of the width along the vertical direction, the width W2 of the guide 18 is narrower than the width W1 of the claw portion 16. The width W2 of the guide 18 is preferably, for example, 50 mm to 200 mm. In addition, in FIG. 4, the open state of the pair of claw portions 16, 16 and the retracted state of the pair of guides 18, 18 are indicated by solid lines, and the closed state of the pair of claw portions 16, 16 and the opposing state of the pair of guides 18, 18 are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0048] Here, as a modified example of this embodiment, when correcting the positional deviation of the cut-out portion 3, the pair of guides 18, 18 may approach each other in sequence from the correcting member 11 on the lower tier to the correcting member 11 on the upper tier, or the pair of guides 18, 18 may approach each other simultaneously in the upper and lower multiple tiers of correcting members 11. Furthermore, after the pair of claw portions 16, 16 hold the cut-out portion 3, the pair of guides 18, 18 may move away from each other in sequence from the correcting member 11 on the lower tier to the correcting member 11 on the upper tier, or the pair of guides 18, 18 may move away from each other simultaneously in the upper and lower multiple tiers of correcting members 11.

[0049] As another modified example of this embodiment, the correcting member 11 (the pair of guides 18, 18) may not operate when the cut-out portion 3 is not displaced in the thickness direction from the normal position P1. In other words, the correcting member 11 may operate only when the cut-out portion 3 is displaced or when the displaced position exceeds an allowable range.

[0050] Please refer to FIG. 1. The regulating member 12 has a function of preventing the collision of the chuck 15 (a pair of claws 16, 16) and the straightening member 11 (a pair of guides 18, 18) with the glass plate 4 even when the glass plate 4 to be discarded falls while displacing in the width direction instead of straight down. In other words, it has a function of adjusting the direction of the glass plate 4 during the fall. The regulating member 12 is attached to each of the pair of arms 13, 13. Only a single regulating member 12 is arranged on each arm 13. In each arm 13, the regulating member 12 is arranged above the lowest chuck 15. The regulating member 12 attached to one of the pair of arms 13, 13 and the regulating member 12 attached to the other arm are paired and are at the same height. In regulating the displacement of the glass plate 4 in the width direction during the fall, the regulating members 12 attached to one and the other of the pair of arms 13, 13 come into contact with the end face 4a on one side of the width direction and the end face 4a on the other side of the width direction of the glass plate 4, respectively. In this embodiment, a roller 20 having a peripheral surface 20a that comes into contact with the edge surface 4a of the glass sheet 4 is used as the regulating member 12.

[0051] Please refer to FIG. 4. The regulating member 12 can move between a regulating position (position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4) for regulating the displacement in the width direction of the glass plate 4 during the drop, and a separated position (position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4) separated outward in the width direction from the regulating position. When the glass plate 4 is dropped, the regulating member 12 moves from the separated position to the regulating position immediately before the holding state of the glass plate 4 by the holding member 10 is released. On the other hand, when the glass plate 4 is dropped and discarded, the regulating member 12 returns from the regulating position to the separated position. Note that both the regulating position and the separated position are located outside the pass line of the cut-out portion 3 in the width direction. As a result, when the glass plate 4 is dropped directly below without being displaced in the width direction, the end surface 4a of the glass plate 4 and the regulating member 12 do not come into contact with each other.

[0052] The restricting member 12 that has moved to the restricting position can come into contact with the end surface 4a of the glass sheet 4 at a position inside the pair of claws 16, 16 in the open state and the pair of guides 18, 18 in the retracted state in the width direction. In more detail, when the restricting member 12 (roller 20) moves to the restricting position, one point 20aa (a position on the circumferential surface 20a that is the innermost position in the width direction) on the peripheral surface 20a of the roller 20 is in a state where it is inside the pair of claws 16, 16 in the open state and the pair of guides 18, 18 in the retracted state in the width direction. In this state, contact with the end surface 4a of the glass sheet 4 is possible. In this embodiment, the innermost position in the width direction of the pair of claws 16, 16 in the open state and the innermost position in the width direction of the pair of guides 18, 18 in the retracted state are the same in the width direction (of course, there are cases where they are not the same). It is preferable that the protruding dimension A of the one portion 20aa protruding inward in the width direction is 15 mm or more based on the pair of claws 16, 16 in the open state and the pair of guides 18, 18 in the retracted state, from the viewpoint of accurately preventing the glass plate 4 from colliding with the pair of claws 16, 16 and the pair of guides 18, 18 during the fall.

[0053] Here, as a modification of this embodiment, multiple tiers of regulating members 12 may be arranged on each of the pair of arms 13, 13. Even in this case, it is preferable that each regulating member 12 attached to one of the pair of arms 13, 13 and each regulating member 12 attached to the other arm are paired and are located at the same height. In this case, multiple pairs are present vertically, and the separation distance (separation distance along the X direction) between the regulating members 12, 12 among the multiple pairs may be equal or different. When the separation distances are different, the separation distance between the regulating members 12, 12 paired on the upper side may be shorter or longer.

[0054] As another modification of the present embodiment, the regulating member 12 may be configured to always be in a fixed position. In other words, the regulating member 12 may be fixed in the regulating position and cannot be moved. Furthermore, a member other than the roller 20 may be used as the regulating member 12.

[0055] The operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1 will now be described in chronological order.

[0056] When the portion to be cut out 3 reaches the breaking mechanism 8 as the glass ribbon 2 is transported, the breaking mechanism 8 starts to descend following the glass ribbon 2. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, in each of the upper and lower two-stage straightening members 11, the pair of guides 18, 18 transition from the retracted state to the opposing state. At this time, the upper-stage straightening member 11 transitions the pair of guides 18, 18 to the opposing state ahead of the lower-stage straightening member 11. When the pair of guides 18, 18 transition to the opposing state in each straightening member 11, the positional deviation of the portion to be cut out 3 in the thickness direction from the normal position P1 is corrected.

[0057] After the positional deviation of the cut-out portion 3 is corrected, the pair of claws 16, 16 of each chuck 15 provided on the holding member 10 transitions from an open state to a closed state, as shown in Fig. 6. The transition from the open state to the closed state is performed simultaneously in all of the chucks 15. As a result, the pair of claws 16, 16 of each chuck 15 captures and holds the cut-out portion 3 in the normal position P1. Then, the cut-out portion 3 is held by the holding member 10 via each chuck 15. At this time, the correction member 11 maintains the pair of guides 18, 18 facing each other.

[0058] After the cut-out portion 3 is held by the holding member 10, the pair of guides 18, 18 in each of the upper and lower two-tiered straightening members 11 return from the opposing state to the retracted state, as shown in Fig. 7. At this time, the straightening member 11 on the upper tier returns the pair of guides 18, 18 to the retracted state before the straightening member 11 on the lower tier. Thereafter, a scribe line is formed on one surface 2a of the glass ribbon 2 along the planned cutting line 5 by a scribing mechanism (including a cutter wheel that rolls on one surface 2a of the glass ribbon 2, etc.) not shown.

[0059] After the scribe line is formed, the fulcrum member 9 moves from the standby position to the contact position and comes into contact with the other surface 2b of the glass ribbon 2. Furthermore, the posture of the arm body 14 changes from a vertical posture to an inclined posture. Accordingly, the portion of the glass ribbon 2 including the planned cutting line 5 curves, and the glass ribbon 2 is bent and broken along the planned cutting line 5. At this point, the portion to be cut 3 is cut out from the glass ribbon 2 as a glass plate 4. If the cut glass plate 4 does not have any defects such as chips or cracks, it is delivered to a downstream process by the holding member 10.

[0060] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8, if the glass plate 4 is defective and cannot be used as a product, the glass plate 4 is discarded without being delivered to a downstream process. In the example shown in Fig. 8, the glass plate 4 is broken and the lower part of the glass plate 4 (the part indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure) is missing. Hereinafter, the operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1 when the glass plate 4 cut out from the glass ribbon 2 is discarded will be described.

[0061] When the glass plate 4 is to be discarded, first, as shown in Fig. 9, the regulating members 12 (rollers 20) attached to each of the pair of arms 13, 13 move inward in the width direction from the separated position to the regulating position. This makes it possible to drop the glass plate 4 and prepare for disposal.

[0062] After the regulating member 12 (roller 20) moves from the separated position to the regulating position, a pair of claws 16, 16 in each chuck 15 of the holding member 10 transitions from a closed state to an open state, as shown in Fig. 10. The transition from the closed state to the open state is performed simultaneously in all of the chucks 15. This releases the glass plate 4 from the holding state of each chuck 15, and ultimately releases the holding state of the glass plate 4 by the holding member 10. Accordingly, the glass plate 4 falls from the breaking mechanism 8.

[0063] As described above, when releasing the glass sheet 4, it is extremely difficult to release the glass sheet 4 from the holding state in all the chucks 15 completely at the same time. Therefore, due to the difficulty in releasing the glass sheet 4 simultaneously, the glass sheet 4 may fall while being displaced in the width direction, as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the restricting member 12 contacts the end surface 4a of the glass sheet 4 on the inner side in the width direction of the pair of claws 16, 16 in the open state and the pair of guides 18, 18 in the retreated state. This prevents the glass sheet 4 from colliding with the pair of claws 16, 16 and the pair of guides 18, 18 during the fall, and as a result, damage to the chucks 15 and the straightening member 11 is avoided. As described above, when the glass sheet 4 is dropped and discarded, the manufacturing device 1 starts an operation for cutting a new glass sheet 4 from the glass ribbon 2.

[0064] Here, the following modified examples can be applied to the above embodiment. For example, instead of the straightening member 11 in the above embodiment, a straightening member 11 as shown in Figures 11 to 14 may be used. In the straightening member 11 shown in Figures 11 to 14, the shape of each of the pair of guides 18, 18 is cylindrical, triangular prism, semi-cylinder, and hook-shaped, respectively.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the restricting member 12 restricts the displacement of the glass plate 4 in the width direction (X direction) by contacting the end surface 4a of the glass plate 4 during the fall, but there are also cases where the displacement in a direction other than the width direction is restricted. The restricting member 12 may restrict the displacement of the glass plate 4 in the lateral direction by contacting the glass plate 4 during the fall. The "lateral direction" here means a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction (Y direction). Therefore, the "lateral direction" includes the Z direction and directions intersecting the X and Z directions. As a specific example, when the restricting member 12 restricts the displacement of the glass plate 4 in the Z direction, the restricting member 12 may be configured to restrict the displacement by contacting the main surfaces (front and back surfaces) of the glass plate 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1. Glass plate manufacturing equipment 2. Glass ribbon 3 Part to be cut out 3a End of section to be cut out 4 Glass Plate 4a Edge of glass plate 8 Folding mechanism 10 Retaining member 12 Regulatory components 15 Chuck 16 Claw part 20 Roller 20a Roller circumference

Claims

1. A glass sheet manufacturing apparatus that cuts a cut portion from a glass ribbon as a glass sheet by bending and cutting the glass ribbon in a width direction while the glass ribbon is being conveyed downward in a vertical position, A bending and breaking mechanism that bends and breaks the glass ribbon while holding the cut-out portion, The folding mechanism includes a holding member that holds and releases one end and the other end in the width direction of the cut-out portion, the holding member is switchable between a closed state in which the holding member clamps and holds the corresponding end of the cut-out portion and an open state in which the holding state of the corresponding end is released, The glass plate manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a regulating member that, when the bending mechanism is switched to the open state, comes into contact with the falling portion to be cut out and regulates lateral displacement of the portion to be cut out.

2. The glass sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the regulating member comes into contact with an end face in a width direction of the portion to be cut out while the portion is falling, thereby regulating displacement of the portion to be cut out in the width direction.

3. the holding member includes a chuck for holding the corresponding end, The chuck is provided in multiple stages, The glass sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the regulating member is disposed above the lowermost chuck.

4. 4. The apparatus for producing a glass sheet according to claim 2, wherein the regulating member is a roller having a peripheral surface that comes into contact with the end face.

5. The regulating member is movable between a regulating position for regulating a displacement of the cut-out portion in the width direction and a separated position separated outward in the width direction from the regulating position, 5. The glass plate manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the regulating member moves to the regulating position before the holding state by the holding member is released when the cut-out portion is dropped.

6. The regulating member is provided in a pair, the regulating member being in contact with one end surface of the cut-out portion in the width direction, and the regulating member being in contact with the other end surface of the cut-out portion, 6. The apparatus for manufacturing a glass sheet according to claim 2, wherein the pair of regulating members are disposed at the same height position.

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