Machine for working glass slabs

Abstract

A machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) is described, and includes a support structure (11), a slab working section (14) including a multifunction rotary tool-holder head (50) configured to perform working on the glass slab (21), a transport unit (18), on which the glass slab (21) to be processed is placed, to move the glass slab (21) along an advancement direction (X-X), and an electronic control unit (29), the transport unit (18) includes first dragging means (24) and second dragging means (34) spaced from each other in the advancement direction (X-X) so as to leave a free space (40) above and / or below which the multifunction tool-holder rotating head (50) is positioned with its rotation axis arranged in the advancement direction (X-X) and the tools in the free space (40) between the first dragging means (24) and the second dragging means (34).

Description

[0001] MACHINE FOR WORKING GLASS SLABS

[0002] The present invention refers to a machine for working glass slabs which is capable of carrying out various processes necessary for the production of a glass slab .

[0003] More speci fically, the invention refers to a machine for working glass slabs that uses a multi function rotary tool-holder head equipped with a plurality of spindles to perform working on the slab with the aid of tools , in particular diamond tools .

[0004] Machines for working glass slabs are known in the art , and use a multi function rotary tool-holder head to carry out some of the operations of the production process , in particular drilling, countersinking and milling or other similar operations which are necessary for the production of a slab of glass .

[0005] These known machines include a multi function rotary tool-holder head which is capable of supporting a maximum of eight spindles , and have the problem that they do not allow a number of spindles greater than eight to be used for a rotary tool-holder head since the bulk o f the rotary toolholder head and spindles is limited by the presence of the glass slab that must be worked .

[0006] Another problem of known machines for working glass slabs that use a multi function rotary toolholder head is that of obtaining adequate cooling of the spindle and tool ; a further general problem of known machines for working glass slabs is that of creating guide shoes that improve the ef ficiency and cleanliness of the guides present on the machine for moving the rotary tool-holder head and any other devices .

[0007] Obj ect of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a machine for working glass slabs equipped with a multi function rotary tool-holder head which allows the use of a high number of spindles ( greater than eight ) compared to known machines , with adequate cooling of the spindle and tool and equipped with guide pads that improve the ef ficiency and cleanliness o f the guides on the machine for moving the rotary tool-holder head and any other devices .

[0008] The above and other obj ects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are achieved with a machine for working glass slabs such as that described in the independent claim . Preferred embodiments and nontrivial variations of the present invention form the subj ect matter of the dependent claims .

[0009] It is understood that all attached claims form an integral part of this description .

[0010] It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modi fications can be made to what i s described ( for example relating to shape , dimensions , arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the attached claims .

[0011] The present invention will be better described by a preferred embodiment thereof , provided by way of example and not by way of limitation, with reference to the attached drawings , in which :

[0012] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a machine for working glass slabs according to the present invention;

[0013] Figures 2 to 4 show partial views of a machine for working glass slabs according to the present invention;

[0014] Figures 5A-5B show views of a shoe of a machine for working glass slabs according to the present invention;

[0015] - Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a tool head of a machine for working glass slabs according to the present invention .

[0016] Referring to the Figures , the machine 10 for working glass slabs 21 of the invention includes a support structure 11 , a slab working section 14 including a multi function rotary tool-holder head 50 configured to perform 21 workings on the glas s slab, for example drilling, milling and countersinking operations , a transport unit 18 on which the glas s slab 21 to be machined is deposited, said transport unit 18 being configured to move the glass slab 21 along an advancement direction X-X towards the section of working slabs 14 and exiting from this section 14 at the end of the working, and an electronic control unit 29 o f a known type .

[0017] The transport unit 18 includes first dragging means 24 configured to move the glass slab 21 along the advancement direction X-X of the glass slab 21 towards the slab working section 14 and second dragging means 34 configured to move the glass slab 21 along the advancement direction X-X exiting from the slab working section 14 at the end of a working performed by the multi function rotary tool-holder head; the first dragging means 24 and the second dragging means 34 are spaced from each other in the advancement direction X-X so as to leave a free space 40 above and / or below which the multi function rotary tool-holder head 50 is placed, having its rotation axis arranged in the advancement direction X-X of the glass slab 21 , and the tools performing their workings on the glass slab 21 in the free space 40 included between the first dragging means 24 and the second dragging means 34 to be able to use a large number of spindles 70 ( greater than eight ) .

[0018] Preferably, the first dragging means 24 and the second dragging means 34 are composed of transport belts 24 , 34 of a known type configured to move the glass slab 21 in the X-X direction on an advancement plane , preferably a hori zontal plane , to carry out the positioning of the glass slab 21 in the working area of the multi function rotary tool-holder head 50 , preferably two opposing rotary tool-holder heads 50 .

[0019] Preferably, the machine 10 for working glass slabs 21 of the invention further comprises an electronic control unit 29 , for example a PLC of a known type , comprising a microcontroller and memory means configured to control and manage the machine 10 , electrical power supply means for the machine , for example comprising a power supply connected to the electrical network, image acquisition devices , for example video cameras , and sensors of a known type , configured to veri fy the working steps .

[0020] The support structure 11 is a frame structure which includes two front portals 57 comprising crosspieces 58 arranged transversally, preferably perpendicular, to the advancement direction of the glass slab 21 and two side portals 60 comprising beams 59 , arranged along the advancement direction X-X, which extend between the front portals 57 .

[0021] The crosspieces 58 include first transverse guides 61 , preferably perpendicular, to the X-X direction to which a tool slide 65 is slidably connected; the multi function rotary tool-holder head 50 , equipped with a plural ity of tools and controlled by the electronic control unit 29 , is in turn connected in a sliding manner to the toolholder slide 65 via second transverse guides 63 , preferably perpendicular, to the X-X direction and to the first guides 61 . Preferably, the machine 10 for working glass slabs 21 according to the invention comprises two multi function rotary tool-holder heads 50 , each slidably mounted on a respective tool-holder slide

[0022] 65 slidably connected to a respective crosspiece 58 .

[0023] The tool-holding slide 65 and the multi function rotary tool-holder head 50 are connected in a sliding manner to the first guides 61 and to the second guides 63 by means of pads 62 comprising a pressuri zation system 64 configured to safeguard the guides 61 from infiltrations of working liquids .

[0024] The pressuri zation system 64 includes a pressuri zation chamber 66 connected to a compressed air circuit via a compressed air inlet noz zle 67 to maintain the volume of the pressuri zation chamber

[0025] 66 under pressure preventing the access of liquids .

[0026] The pressuri zation chamber 66 comprises two walls each having an opening 68 having a profile that matches the cross-section profile of the guide 61 , 63 , preferably matches the cross-section profile of an upper part of the guide 61 , 63 , to allow the sliding of the guide 61 , 63 in the opening 68 and allow the passage of an air blade which protects the first guides 61 , the second guides 63 and the pads 62 from the infiltration of water and working liquids .

[0027] The multi function tool-holder rotating head 50 includes a plurality of spindles 70 , preferably greater than eight , with the spindle 70 which is in the working position connected in direct drive with an electric motor 71 and with an inlet 72 of a cooling liquid, preferably water, connected to a duct 73 made in the mandrel in correspondence with its rotation axis .

[0028] Advantageously, the machine 10 for working glass slabs according to the invention allows the use of a multi function rotary tool-holder head with a high number of spindles ( greater than eight ) compared to prior art machines , with adequate cooling of the spindle and of the tool and capable of protecting the guides and slides from the infiltration of water and working liquids .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) which includes a support structure (11) , a slab working section (14) including a multifunction tool-holder rotating head (50) configured to perform working on the glass slab (21) , a transport unit (18) , on which the glass slab (21) to be processed is deposited, configured to move the glass slab (21) along an advancement direction (X-X) , and an electronic control unit (29) , the transport unit (18) comprising first dragging means (24) and second dragging means (34) spaced from each other in the advancement direction (X-X) so as to leave a free space (40) above and / or below which the multifunction tool-holder rotating head (50) is positioned with its rotation axis arranged in the advancement direction (X-X) and the tools that carry out the working on the glass slab (21) in the free space (40) between the first dragging means (24) and the second dragging means (34) , characterized in that it includes two opposing rotary tool-holder heads (50) .

2. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a number of spindles (70) greater thaneight .

3. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first dragging means (24) and the second dragging means (34) are composed of transport belts configured to move the glass slab (21) in the direction (X-X) on a feed plane to position the glass slab (21) in the working area of the multifunction rotary tool-holder head (50) .

4. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the support structure (11) includes crosspieces (58) arranged transversally to the advancement direction (X-X) of the glass slab (21) and beams (59) arranged in the advancement direction (X-X) , in which the crosspieces (58) include first guides (61) , transversal to the advancement direction (X-X) , to which a tool-holder slide (65) is slidably connected and the multifunction rotary tool-holder head (50) is in turn connected in a sliding manner to the toolholder slide (65) via second guides (63) transversal to the advancement direction (X-X) and to the first guides (61) .

5. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21)according to claim 4, characterized in that the two multifunction tool-holding rotating heads (50) are each mounted sliding on a respective tool-holding slide (65) connected in a sliding manner to a respective crosspiece (58) .

6. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) according to any of the previous claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the tool-holding slide (65) and the multifunction rotary tool-holder head (50) are connected in a sliding manner to the first guides (61) and to the second guides (63) by means of pads (62) comprising a pressurization system (64) which includes a pressurization chamber (66) connected to a compressed air circuit via a nozzle (67) of compressed air inlet to keep the volume of the pressurization chamber (66) under pressure, preventing the access of liquids.

7. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) according to claim 6, characterized in that the pressurization chamber (66) includes two walls each having an opening (68) having a profile that matches the profile of the cross section of the guide (61, 63) to allow the sliding of the guide (61, 63) in the opening (68) and allow the passage of an air blade which safeguards the first guides(61) , the second guides (63) and the pads (62) from infiltrations of water and working liquids.

8. Machine (10) for working glass slabs (21) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it includes a spindle (70) which in its working position is connected in direct drive with an electric motor (71) and with an inlet (72) of a cooling liquid connected to a duct (73) made in the spindle (70) in correspondence with its rotation axis.

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