Method for determining at least one zone on the surface of a glass plate

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining at least one zone on the surface of a glass plate. The method comprises the steps of: - obtaining (E10) a plurality of cutting planes for cutting the glass plate, wherein each cutting plane is optimised to remove the greatest number of defects from among a set of defects; - for each defect, determining (E20) an indicator representative of the number of cutting planes capable of removing the defect; - discretising (E30) the surface of the glass plate into a plurality of tiles; - for each tile and according to the determined indicators, determining (E40) a score representative of a capability of removing a defect located in the tile; - determining (E50) at least one zone on the surface of the glass plate according to the scores respectively associated with the tiles forming the zone.

Description

Method for determining at least one area of ​​the surface of a glass plate

[0001] The present invention belongs to the general field of cutting pieces of glass from glass trays.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a method for determining at least one area of ​​the surface of a glass plate, a first method for cutting at least one glass plate from a continuous ribbon of glass from at least one area thus determined, and a second method for cutting a given set of pieces of glass from at least one glass plate obtained using the first cutting method. The invention also relates to systems configured to implement these methods.

[0003] Glass is traditionally manufactured as a continuous ribbon of glass known as "float glass". This ribbon is then cut into glass plates known as "motherglass", a process still known as "quarrel glass".

[0004] These are, for example, large glass trays called "PLF" (acronym for the expression "Large Format Glass Trays"), typically measuring 3.21 m by approximately 6 m, or even smaller glass trays called "DLF" measuring approximately 2.55 m by 3.21 m.

[0005] A defect analysis step can be performed before this cutting to check whether the glass ribbon complies with specifications in terms of the presence of defects on the glass. If there are out-of-specification defects, the glass trays can then be cut by excluding a certain length of the ribbon corresponding to the out-of-specification portion of the ribbon.

[0006] This method of proceeding is nevertheless far from satisfactory insofar as it tends to significantly reduce the glass production yield sought by glass plate manufacturers.

[0007] Therefore, in order to maintain good performance for glass tray manufacturers while minimizing the presence of defects in the pieces (substrates) of glass, also called "primitives", intended to be cut from each of the glass trays, alternative solutions have been proposed. These consist first of all in limiting the elimination of defects during the cutting of glass trays, and are also based on the determination of cutting plans making it possible to obtain the primitives in question and which are optimized to eliminate a maximum of defects during the cutting of said primitives.

[0008] It is understood that by "elimination of a defect" in the case of cutting primitives, we are here classically referring to the fact that a cutting plan allows the defect to be placed in a piece of glass rather than in one of the primitives.

[0009] By way of example, document WO 2014 / 128424 describes a method for cutting pieces of glass from at least one glass plate in which such optimized cutting plans are generated and used. The optimization of a cutting plan according to this method can take into account different parameters, including in particular parameters specific to the defects present on the glass plates, such as typically the position, size or type of defects. Cutting plans thus generated can for example be combined with a plurality of glass plates so as to achieve an acceptable number of cut primitives while reducing the presence of defects in the latter.

[0010] These alternative solutions, although acceptable to glass top manufacturers, nevertheless place a substantial burden of eliminating defects on the operators (also called "processors") who cut the blanks.

[0011] What is more, these solutions remain relatively complex to implement (and are therefore more expensive) since they require significant computing resources in order to generate the optimized cutting plans, in particular when the glass plates contain a relatively large number of defects that are unacceptable with regard to the production specifications of the primitives, but also because it is necessary to be able to respect certain production rates.

[0012] In practice, an intermediate solution is generally adopted. This consists of allowing, to a certain extent, the presence of defects in the glass plates, which therefore reduces the efficiency of glass plate manufacturers but nevertheless limits the impact on processors. This alternative solution is nevertheless far from optimal because there is no guarantee that the defects accepted during the production phase of the glass plates are localized so that they can be eliminated during the cutting of the primitives in sufficient proportions to meet the production specifications.

[0013]

[0014] The present invention aims to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular those set out above, by proposing a solution which makes it possible to produce glass plates as well as pieces of glass cut from these glass plates in a much more efficient manner than the solutions of the state of the art.

[0015] For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a computer-implemented method for determining at least one area of ​​the surface of a glass plate, said method comprising steps of: - obtaining a plurality of cutting plans for the glass plate, each cutting plan being configured for cutting a given set of pieces of glass in the glass plate, each cutting plan being further optimized to eliminate a maximum number of defects during cutting from a set of defects associated with said cutting plan, - for each defect, determining an indicator representative of the number of cutting plans capable of eliminating said defect, - discretizing the surface of the glass plate into a plurality of slabs, - for each slab and as a function of the determined indicators, determining a score representative of a capacity to eliminate a defect located in said slab during cutting,- determination of at least one zone of the surface of the glass plate, said at least one zone comprising at least one slab and satisfying at least one criterion consisting in that the score of said at least one zone is greater than a given threshold, the score of a zone being representative of the scores respectively associated with the slabs forming said zone.,

[0016] The determination method according to the invention therefore makes it possible to identify one or more areas of the surface of a glass plate, this or these areas having the particularity of being configured in an appropriate manner to eliminate defects at the time of cutting the pieces of glass (primitives).

[0017] This approach therefore represents a considerable advantage because, once the zone(s) have been determined, it is possible to communicate them to the glass plate manufacturers. They can then configure the glass ribbon cutting process so that a maximum number of defects are located in the zone(s) thus identified. In this way, the efficiency of the glass plate manufacturers is very little impacted, because the elimination of defects is taken care of by the processors, it being understood that a very large number of defects will be able to be eliminated by the processors (due to their locations in the identified zones) without this requiring significant resources (in terms of determining the cutting plan in particular).

[0018] In other words, the determination method according to the invention does not aim to seek to optimize the operations of glass plate manufacturers and processors independently of each other, as is the case in the state of the art, but on the contrary allows the optimization of the operations of one to be beneficial to the other, so that the entire production chain (cutting of glass plates, cutting of primitives) is optimized.

[0019] In particular embodiments, the determination method may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations.

[0020] In particular modes of implementation, the combination of the sets of defects respectively associated with the cutting planes forms a distribution of defects distributed homogeneously on the surface of the glass plate.

[0021] In particular embodiments, the pieces of glass to be cut are characterized by a set of parameters including: - respective dimensions of the pieces of glass, - a number of pieces of glass to be cut in the glass plate.

[0022] In particular implementation modes, the parameter set includes respective quality indicators of the glass pieces.

[0023] In particular modes of implementation:- at least one parameter of the parameter set comes from a history of parameters used during at least one past glass production campaign, and / or- at least one parameter of the parameter set is a simulated parameter.

[0024] In particular implementation modes, the number of slabs is between 1 and 100.

[0025] In particular modes of implementation, the indicator associated with a defect is equal to the number of cutting plans capable of eliminating said defect, the score of a slab corresponding to the sum of the indicators respectively associated with the defects located in said slab.

[0026] In particular embodiments, the step of determining said at least one zone is implemented so as to satisfy yet another criterion consisting in the size of said at least one zone being included in a given interval.

[0027] In particular embodiments, the step of determining said at least one zone is implemented so as to satisfy yet another criterion consisting in the number of zones determined being less than a given threshold.

[0028] In particular modes of implementation, the step of determining said at least one zone comprises an optimization of a cost function parameterized by said at least one criterion.

[0029] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for cutting at least one glass plate from a continuous ribbon of glass, said cutting method being implemented from at least one zone determined in accordance with a determination method according to the invention, and in which the cutting of said at least one glass plate is carried out so that the number of defects located in said at least one zone is greater than a given threshold.

[0030] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a method of cutting a given set of pieces of glass in at least one glass plate obtained by a method of cutting at least one glass plate according to the invention.

[0031] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing steps of:- a method according to the invention, or- a method of cutting at least one glass plate according to the invention, or- a method of cutting a given set of pieces of glass according to the invention, when said computer program is executed by a computer.

[0032] This program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0033] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable information or recording medium on which a computer program according to the invention is recorded.

[0034] The information or recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording medium, for example a hard disk.

[0035] On the other hand, the information or recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

[0036] Alternatively, the information or recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to carry out or to be used in carrying out the method in question.

[0037] According to a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising means configured to implement:- a method according to the invention, or- a method of cutting at least one glass plate according to the invention, or- a method of cutting a given set of pieces of glass according to the invention.

[0038]

[0039] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment thereof without any limiting character. In the figures:

[0040] schematically represents a system configured to determine one or more areas of the surface of a glass plate according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0041] schematically represents an example of hardware architecture of a processing device belonging to the system of the;

[0042] represents, in the form of a flowchart, a particular mode of implementation of a method for determining at least one zone according to the invention, as executed by the processing device;

[0043] schematically represents an example of discretization of a glass plate using rectangular slabs, as envisaged in the method of determining the;

[0044] schematically represents two areas of the glass plate of the, as determined by means of a specific example of implementation of the method for determining the;

[0045] schematically represents a particular embodiment of a system for cutting at least one glass plate according to the invention;

[0046] schematically represents an example of hardware architecture of a processing device belonging to the system of the;

[0047] la represents, in the form of a flowchart, a particular mode of implementation of a cutting method according to the invention, as executed by the system of the.

[0048]

[0049] Description of embodiments

[0050] Schematically represents a particular embodiment of a system SYS_1 according to the invention, said system SYS_1 being configured to determine one or more zones of the surface of a glass plate.

[0051] It should be noted that the determination of the zone(s) is carried out here in an automated manner and by means configured in software and hardware, as described in more detail later. Therefore, it should be understood that the "glass plate" referred to for the determination of the zone(s) is in fact a digital model of a glass plate (i.e. a modeled glass plate). Nevertheless, this digital model takes into account all the classic characteristics of a physical glass plate, so that, in what follows and with regard to the determination of the zone(s), only a "glass plate" (and not a "modeled glass plate") is referred to without this causing any confusion.

[0052] For the remainder of the description, it is considered in no way limiting that the glass top is of the “PLF” type. These provisions are however not limiting of the invention, and nothing excludes for example the consideration of a “DLF” type glass top. In any event, whatever the type of glass top, it corresponds to the tops conventionally produced by cutting (using a guillotine) in a continuous ribbon of glass (i.e. float glass or “float” glass in English).

[0053] In the present embodiment, the glass plate itself is intended to be cut according to a plurality of cutting planes PL_DEC_{i,j}, i (respectively j) being an integer index between 1 and M (respectively between 1 and N). No limitation is attached to the values ​​of the numbers M and N. As a non-limiting example, the numbers M and N can both be set to 100.

[0054] Each cutting plane PL_DEC_{i,j} is configured for cutting a given set of glass pieces ENS_PRIM_{i,j} (primitives) from the glass plate. In the present case (i.e., regarding the determination of the zone(s)), and with regard to the elements discussed above, the cutting of the glass pieces is a virtual cutting carried out using said cutting planes PL_DEC_{i,j}. In addition, each cutting plane PL_DEC_{i,j} (i.e., for fixed indices i and j) is optimized to eliminate a maximum number of defects during cutting, these aspects being described in more detail later.

[0055] It is important to note that the said cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j} are distinct from each other. As for the sets of pieces of glass ENS_PRIM_{i,j} respectively associated with the cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j}, these can also be distinct from each other in whole or in part.

[0056] There are no limitations on the industrial application for which the glass pieces are intended. For example, all or part of the glass pieces can be used in the manufacture of automotive glazing, glazing for solar applications, for example photovoltaic, glazing for projection screens, for example an OLED screen, glazing for mirrors or even building glazing.

[0057] In a manner known per se, the pieces of glass of the set ENS_PRIM_{i,j} are characterized by a set of parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j} from which it is possible to derive characteristics (geometric, qualitative, etc.) for the glass plates (and therefore a fortiori for the modeled glass plate considered in the context of the determination of the zone(s)) intended for the production of said pieces of glass.

[0058] In the embodiment described here, said set ENS_PAR_{i,j} of parameters comprises:- respective dimensions of the pieces of glass of the set ENS_PRIM_{i,j},- a number of pieces of glass to be cut from the glass plate.

[0059] The dimensions make it possible in particular to define the respective shapes of the pieces of glass. Regarding these aspects, it should be noted that the invention is not limited by the shapes of the pieces of glass to be cut from the glass panel. Thus, a piece of glass may have the shape of a rectangle, a polygon, a circle, an ellipse, or any other more complex shape. Depending on the shape considered for a piece of glass, the associated dimensions may refer to lengths / widths / thicknesses, etc.

[0060] The invention is not further limited by the number of pieces of glass that can be envisaged for cutting in the glass plate, it being understood that this number is nevertheless limited above depending on the respective dimensions of the glass plate and the pieces of glass to be cut.

[0061] Furthermore, nothing excludes considering other parameters in addition to the dimensions of the pieces of glass as well as their number. For example, the set of parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j} characterizing the pieces of glass to be cut may also include respective quality indicators of the pieces of glass. Such quality indicators may for example be representative of acceptance criteria for defects in each of the pieces of glass, these acceptance criteria being able to differ from one piece of glass to another. As an illustration, a defect which is for example not acceptable in the center of a piece to be cut may for example be unacceptable at its periphery, and vice versa for another piece of glass.

[0062] It should be noted that the term "defect" here classically refers to an imperfection in the glass. An imperfection can, for example, be a "pinhole" type defect (a defect in the coating), a bubble defect, a scratch defect on the glass, a surface defect, a thickness defect, a layer defect, etc. In addition, an imperfection may be acceptable in some cases and not in other cases, for example depending on the intended application for the pieces of glass (i.e. depending on the specifications required for the glazing to be produced). Glass plates intended for the semiconductor field will, for example, be more sensitive to surface defects, while in the field of automotive or building glazing, transmission or reflection defects will be more significant.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the set of parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j} defining the parameters of the set of pieces of glass ENS_PRIM_{i,j} comes more particularly from a history of parameters used during at least one past glass production campaign.

[0064] Considering previously used parameters is advantageous since the determination of the zone(s) in the glass plate using the SYS_1 system is part of a real operating and production context.

[0065] It should be noted that a parameter of the set ENS_PAR_{i,j} can for example be directly equal to a parameter of the parameter history, or be the result of a statistical calculation applied to parameters of the history.

[0066] It should also be noted that the parameter history, and therefore a fortiori the set of parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j}, can be stored by any known storage means. As a non-limiting example, and as illustrated by the, it can be a BDD database belonging to the SYS_1 system.

[0067] Although it is considered here that the parameters of the set ENS_PAR_{i,j} are all derived (directly or indirectly) from the parameter history, other variants can still be considered. For example, the parameters of the set ENS_PAR_{i,j} can be simulated parameters.

[0068] Such an alternative is advantageous in that it allows for the determination of one or more zones in the glass plate following an exploratory approach, i.e. without any link to past operating and production conditions.

[0069] Finally, we also understand that nothing excludes having a configuration in which only part of the parameters of the set ENS_PAR_{i,j} comes from the history, the remaining part coming from simulated parameters. In particular, no limitation is attached to the cardinality of these two parts.

[0070] In the present embodiment, and in addition to the database BDD, the system SYS_1 also comprises a processing device DISP_1. Said processing device DISP_1 is configured to carry out processing operations aimed at determining one or more zones of the glass plate, by implementing steps of a method for determining said zone(s).

[0071] Schematically represents an example of hardware architecture of the processing device DISP_1 according to the invention.

[0072] As illustrated by the, the processing device DISP_1 has the hardware architecture of a computer. Thus, such a processing device DISP_1 comprises, in particular, a processor 1_1, a random access memory 2_1, a read only memory 3_1 and a non-volatile memory 4_1. It also has communication means 5_1.

[0073] The read-only memory 3_1 of the processing device DISP_1 constitutes a recording medium in accordance with the invention, readable by the processor 1_1 and on which is recorded a computer program PROG_1 in accordance with the invention, comprising instructions for the execution of steps of the determination method according to the invention.

[0074] The program PROG_1 defines functional modules of the processing device DISP_1, which rely on or control the hardware elements 1_1 to 5_1 of the processing device DISP_1 mentioned above. These functional modules are illustrated in the figure without any limitation being implied, and are described in more detail below with reference to particular modes of implementation of the determination method.

[0075] The communication means 5_1 allow the processing device DISP_1 to receive data, in particular the set of parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j} defining the parameters of the set of pieces of glass ENS_PRIM_{i,j}, from the database BDD. These communication means 5_1 rely, in a manner known per se, on a communication interface capable of exchanging data between the processing device DISP_1 and the database BDD. No limitation is attached to the nature of this communication interface, which may be wired or wireless, so as to allow the exchange of data according to any protocol known to the person skilled in the art (Ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, 5G, Modbus, TCP-IP, analog, etc.).

[0076] In its general principle, the determination method according to the invention aims to identify on the surface of the glass plate at least one zone in which, for each of the sets of given pieces of glass ENS_PRIM_{i,j} intended to be cut from said glass plate, there is a sufficiently large number of defects which can be eliminated during cutting (via one or more appropriate cutting planes).

[0077] Knowing how to identify such areas represents a considerable advantage because, once this information is obtained, it can be communicated to glass plate manufacturers. They can then configure the glass ribbon cutting process so that a maximum number of defects are located in the areas thus identified. In this way, the efficiency of glass plate manufacturers is very little impacted, because the elimination of defects is taken care of by the processors, it being understood that a very large number of defects will be able to be eliminated by the processors (due to their locations in the identified areas) without this requiring significant resources (in terms of determining the cutting plan in particular).

[0078] La represents, in the form of a flowchart, a particular mode of implementation of the determination method according to the invention, as executed by the device DISP_1 of the.

[0079] As mentioned above, the execution of the determination method is carried out for the sets ENS_PRIM_{i,j} of pieces of glass, whose associated parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j} are stored in the database BDD.

[0080] For the description of the mode of the, and in order to simplify it, we consider in a non-limiting manner that the glass plate from which the pieces of glass ENS_PRIM_{i,j} can be cut has already been modeled. The data useful for modeling the glass plate have in particular been determined from the parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j}.

[0081] The modeling of the glass plate was, for example, executed by the processing device DIPS_1. In other words, in this example, the processing device DISP_1 obtained, during a data exchange with the database BDD, the parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j} and then performed the modeling in question. This data exchange is carried out using the communication means 5_1, for example by being initiated by the processing device DISP_1 by means of an appropriate request.

[0082] Alternatively, a third-party entity took care of the modeling, then transmitted the modeled tray to the DISP_1 processing device (typically in the form of a computer file).

[0083] In any case, when the process begins, the processing device DISP_1 stores the modeled tray in memory, for example in its non-volatile memory 4_1.

[0084] Although obtaining the modeled tray by the processing device DISP_1 is not described here as being an integral part of the method for determining the, it should however be noted that all or part of the steps leading to this obtaining (transmission of the parameters ENS_PAR_{i,j}, modeling of the glass tray, transmission of the modeled tray) can be integrated into said method according to other modes of implementation not detailed here.

[0085] As illustrated by the, the determination method firstly comprises a step E10 of obtaining the plurality of cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j} of the glass plate.

[0086] As mentioned above, each cutting plan PL_DEC_{i,j} (i.e. for fixed indices i and j) is optimized to eliminate a maximum number of defects during cutting from a set of defects ENS_DEF_{i,j} associated with said cutting plan.

[0087] For the remainder of the description, we adopt the notation DEF_{i,j,k} (k being an integer index) to designate a given defect within the set ENS_DEF_{i,j}. The position of the defect DEF_{i,j,k} on the glass plate is noted POS_DEF_{i,j,k}.

[0088] The number of defects considered within the set ENS_DEF_{i,j} does not constitute a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, two sets of defects ENS_DEF_{i_1,j_1} and ENS_ DEF_{i_2,j_2} may have the same cardinality or not, and may or may not have an empty intersection.

[0089] More particularly, in the implementation mode of the, obtaining the cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j} corresponds to a determination of the latter by the processing device DISP_1, by means of appropriate digital (algorithmic) processing. For this purpose, said step E10 is implemented by a first determination module MOD_DET_1 equipping the processing device DISP_1.

[0090] The numerical treatments are for example those described in the document WO 2014 / 128424 already mentioned previously. As a reminder, and in summary, the procedure taught by the document WO 2014 / 128424 describes implementation modes in which generic cutting plans PL_DEC_GEN_{1},…, PL_DEC_GEN_{M} are first determined. These generic cutting plans PL_DEC_GEN_{1},…, PL_DEC_GEN_{M} are optimized plans of the glass plate when the latter is considered to be without defects. Furthermore, in order to simulate the presence of defects, random defect maps MAP_RAND_{1},…, MAP_RAND_{N} are considered which are combined with the glass plate, each defect map MAP_RAND_{j} making it possible to simulate a distribution of defects on the surface of the glass plate. Each cutting plane PL_DEC_{i,j} (i.e.for indices i and j fixed between 1 and M as well as 1 and N respectively) then results from an optimization procedure of the generic cutting plan PL_DEC_GEN_{i} for which the defect map MAP_RAND_{j} has been taken into account (the set of defects ENS_DEF_{i,j} therefore corresponding to the association of the defects of the map MAP_RAND_{j} with said generic cutting plan PL_DEC_GEN_{i}).

[0091] Furthermore, the randomness associated with the distribution of defects in the defect maps MAP_RAND_{j} can be controlled, so that the union of said sets of defects ENS_DEF_{i,j} conforms to a distribution of a particular type. Thus, according to a preferred example of implementation, the union of the sets of defects ENS_DEF_{i,j} forms a distribution of defects distributed homogeneously on the surface of the glass plate.

[0092] Finally, if obtaining the cutting plans is described here as being the implementation of processing such as those detailed in document WO 2014 / 128424, nothing excludes considering other alternatives. For example, the term “obtaining” may refer to a transmission of the cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j}, it being understood that these would have been determined prior to the execution of the determination method by another entity. In this case, the obtaining step would be implemented using the communication means 5_1.

[0093] Generally speaking, no limitation is attached to the manner in which the processing device DISP_1 obtains said cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j}, these aspects being known to the person skilled in the art.

[0094] Therefore, once the cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j} have been obtained, and as illustrated by the, the determination method comprises a step E20 of determining, for each defect DEF_{i,j,k}, an indicator IND_DEF_{i,j,k} representative of the number of cutting plans capable of eliminating said defect DEF_{i,j,k}. Said step E20 is implemented by a second determination module MOD_DET_2 equipping the processing device DISP_1.

[0095] The said indicator IND_DEF_{i,j,k} therefore corresponds to a metric making it possible to quantify a capacity for eliminating the defect DEF_{i,j,k} (located according to the position POS_ DEF_{i,j,k} on the glass plate) when cutting the glass plate to obtain the pieces of glass of the set ENS_PRIM_{i,j}.

[0096] More particularly, in the implementation mode described here, the indicator IND_DEF_{i,j,k} associated with a defect DEF_{i,j,k} is equal to the number of cutting planes capable of eliminating said defect DEF_{i,j,k}.

[0097] Considering such a value of the indicator IND_DEF_{i,j,k}, however, only constitutes a variant implementation of the invention, other variants being conceivable. For example, the indicator IND_DEF_{i,j,k} can be expressed in the form of a ratio between the number of cutting plans capable of eliminating said defect DEF_{i,j,k} and the total number of cutting plans PL_DEC_{i,j} (i.e. this total number here being equal to M x N). According to yet another variant, this ratio can be expressed in the form of a percentage.

[0098] Once the indicators IND_DEF_{i,j,k} have been determined for each of the defects DEF_{i,j,k}, the determination method comprises a step E30 of discretizing the glass plate into a plurality of slabs TIL_{p} (p being an integer index greater than 1). Said step E30 is implemented by a discretization module MOD_DISC equipping the processing device DISP_1.

[0099] Said discretization amounts to making a partition (a mesh) of the surface of the glass plate by said TIL_{p} slabs.

[0100] In the present embodiment, the TIL_{p} tiles used for the discretization of the surface of the glass plate are rectangular tiles. More specifically, it is considered here, without limitation, that the width and the length of the glass plate are both divided by 10, so as to obtain a discretization of the surface of the glass plate by 100 tiles.

[0101] However, considering rectangular slabs only constitutes a variant implementation of the invention. Generally speaking, no limitation is attached to the respective shapes of said slabs, nor even to their respective sizes, since they allow a partition (mesh) of the surface of the glass plate to be created. Furthermore, nothing excludes having a mixture of different shapes.

[0102] It should also be noted that the slabs may be of different or identical respective sizes, in whole or in part. Finally, the number of slabs does not constitute a limitation of the invention. Thus, the number of slabs may, for example, be between 1 and 100.

[0103] It is of course understood that the number of slabs can be chosen according to different criteria. Thus, such a criterion can for example concern a calculation time to check whether or not a defect belongs to a slab (it being understood that the calculation time in question must ideally be short in order to be able to quickly make a decision as to whether or not to cut to the square given that the ribbon arrives continuously). In addition or as an alternative, a criterion that can be taken into account to decide on the number of slabs can concern their size (e.g. 10x10cm or 5x5cm) in order to ensure minimal waste for the transformer.

[0104] As illustrated by the, the determination method then comprises a step E40 of determining, for each slab TIL_{p} and as a function of the indicators IND_DEF_{i,j,k} determined during step E20, a score SCO_TIL_{p} representative of a capacity to eliminate, when cutting, a defect located in said slab. Said step E40 is implemented by a third determination module MOD_DET_3 equipping the processing device DISP_1.

[0105] The SCO_TIL_{p} score therefore makes it possible to quantify the capacity to eliminate localized defects in the TIL_{p} slab.

[0106] It is of course understood that the determination of the SCO_TIL_{p} score associated with a TIL_{p} slab depends on the way in which the IND_DEF_{i,j,k} indicators are expressed. In the implementation mode described here, the IND_DEF_{i,j,k} indicator associated with a defect DEF_{i,j,k} being equal to the number of cutting planes capable of eliminating said defect DEF_{i,j,k}, the SCO_TIL_{p} score of a TIL_{p} slab corresponds (is equal) to the sum of the indicators respectively associated with the defects located in said TIL_{p} slab.

[0107] In more detail, the determination of the SCO_TIL_{p} score can, for example, initially include an identification of the defects located in the TIL_{p} slab. This location is carried out from the POS_ DEF_{i,j,k} positions respectively associated with the DEF_{i,j,k} defects.

[0108] When the defects located in the TIL_{p} slab have been identified, their respective indicators are then summed to obtain the SCO_TIL_{p} score.

[0109] It is important to note, however, that considering a sum of the indicators respectively associated with the defects located in a slab does not constitute a limitation of the invention. Indeed, nothing excludes considering other modes of implementation in which, for example, the score SCO_TIL_{p} is a particular statistic (e.g. an average) obtained from the indicators respectively associated with the defects located in the slab TIL_{p}.

[0110] Of course, if the indicators IND_DEF_{i,j,k} are expressed differently, for example in the form of a ratio as mentioned above, the person skilled in the art knows how to adapt the implementation of step E40 so that the score SCO_TIL_{p} makes it possible to quantify a capacity for eliminating localized defects in the TIL_{p} slab.

[0111] Schematically represents an example of discretization of the glass plate by means of rectangular slabs, as envisaged in the method of determining the.

[0112] In the, the indexing of the TIL_{p} tiles is done by rows, starting with the topmost row, and, on each row, going through the tiles from left to right. The tiles TIL_{1}, TIL_{2}, TIL_{10}, TIL_{11} and TIL_{100} are specifically indicated.

[0113] Furthermore, as illustrated by the, each TIL_{p} tile contains a number which corresponds to the SCO_TIL_{p} score determined during step E40.

[0114] As can be seen in the, there can be significant differences between the SCO_TIL_{p} scores of the TIL_{p} slabs, even when two slabs are contiguous. This specific distribution of SCO_TIL_{p} scores over the surface of the glass plate is therefore used to identify one or more areas (each area grouping one or more slabs) for which a sufficiently high removal capacity can be determined.

[0115] For this purpose, the determination method comprises a step E50 of determining at least one zone Z_{q} of the surface of the glass plate, said at least one zone Z_{q} comprising at least one slab TIL_{p} and satisfying at least one criterion CRIT_1 consisting in that the score SCO_Z_{q} of said at least one zone Z_{q} is greater than a given threshold S_1, the score of a zone being representative of the scores respectively associated with the slabs forming said zone.

[0116] It should be noted that by "zone" we refer here to a portion of the surface of the glass plate which, if it comprises a plurality of slabs, is such that each of said slabs is contiguous to at least one other of said slabs (in other words, a zone is a geometric space of a single piece, that is to say connected).

[0117] In the manner described above with regard to step E40, the score of a zone Z_{q} may correspond to a sum of the scores respectively associated with the slabs forming said zone Z_{q}, or to a particular statistic obtained from the scores respectively associated with the slabs forming said zone Z_{q} (e.g. an average, more particularly an average calculated as a ratio between the scores of the slabs considered along a first direction in which the plateau extends and the scores of the slabs considered along a second direction in which the plateau extends, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction). According to yet another example, it may be the minimum score among the scores respectively associated with the slabs forming said zone Z_{q}.

[0118] No limitation is attached to the value of the threshold S_1. In particular, it may be taken into account that the square cutting can be optimized (as detailed below) by modifying the cutting location of the glass ribbon along the direction perpendicular to the glass flow direction. Consequently, it may be advantageous to determine zones Z_{q} extending more along said perpendicular direction rather than in said glass flow direction. Thus, and with reference to the scores of the TIL_{p} slabs of the, the threshold S_1 may for example be set equal to 2800, so as to favor the creation of zones which comprise an entire strip of slabs along the direction perpendicular to the glass flow.

[0119] The fact of considering only the criterion CRIT_1 to determine said at least one zone Z_{q} does not constitute a limitation of the invention, and nothing excludes taking into account still other criteria.

[0120] For example, it is possible to take into account (in addition to the criterion CRIT_1) another criterion consisting of the fact that the size of said at least one zone Z_{q} is included in a given interval. By way of illustration, the size of said at least one zone Z_{q} can be determined according to the number of slabs that compose it, this number being able for example to be between 1 and 10. It is of course understood that this number of slabs can also depend itself on the size of the slabs concerned.

[0121] Alternatively or in addition, it is possible to take into account (in addition to the CRIT_1 criterion) another criterion consisting of the number of determined zones being less than a given threshold. For example, the number of determined zones may be less than or equal to 4.

[0122] Any method known to the person skilled in the art for determining one or more zones Z_{q} satisfying at least the criterion CRIT_1 may be used. By way of non-limiting example, step E50 of determining said at least one zone Z_{q} may include an optimization of a cost function parameterized by the criterion(s) taken into account (and therefore at least by the criterion CRIT_1).

[0123] Larepresents schematically two zones Z_{1} and Z_{2} of the glass plate of the, as determined by means of a specific example of implementation of the method for determining the.

[0124] The invention has been described so far by considering only the determination of said at least one zone Z_{q}. That being said, and according to another aspect, the invention also relates to a system SYS_2 for cutting at least one glass plate in a continuous ribbon of glass. L schematically represents a particular embodiment of said system SYS_2.

[0125] In a manner known per se, the SYS_2 system comprises cutting means MOY_SLICE configured materially to cut at least one glass plate from a continuous ribbon of cooled glass. Said means conventionally comprise a guillotine.

[0126] In addition to said cutting means MOY_SLICE, the system SYS_2 also comprises a control device DISP_2 configured to perform processing operations enabling control commands to be generated for the cutting means MOY_SLICE, by implementing steps of a first method for cutting at least one glass plate. Said commands are more particularly generated so as to cut at least one glass plate according to said at least one zone Z_{q} determined using the determination method described above.

[0127] Schematically represents an example of hardware architecture of the processing device DISP_2 according to the invention.

[0128] As illustrated by the, the device DISP_2 has the hardware architecture of a computer. Thus, the device DISP_2 comprises, in particular, a processor 1_2, a random access memory 2_2, a read only memory 3_2 and a non-volatile memory 4_2. It also has communication means 5_2.

[0129] The read-only memory 3_2 of the device DISP_2 constitutes a recording medium in accordance with the invention, readable by the processor 1_2 and on which is recorded a computer program PROG_2 in accordance with the invention, comprising instructions for the execution of steps of the first cutting method according to the invention.

[0130] The program PROG_2 defines functional modules of the device DISP_2, which rely on or control the hardware elements 1_2 to 5_2 of the device DISP_2 mentioned above. These functional modules are illustrated in the figure without any limitation, and are described in more detail below with reference to particular modes of implementation of the first cutting method.

[0131] The communication means 5_2 allow the device DISP_2 to receive data, in particular said at least one zone Z_{q}, from the processing device DISP_1. These communication means 5_2 rely, in a manner known per se, on a communication interface capable of exchanging data between the device DISP_2 and the processing device DISP_1. No limitation is attached to the nature of this communication interface, which may be wired or wireless, so as to allow the exchange of data according to any protocol known to the person skilled in the art (Ethernet, Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, 5G, Modbus, TCP-IP, analog, etc.).

[0132] La represents, in the form of a flowchart, a particular mode of implementation of the first cutting method according to the invention, as executed by the SYS_2 system of the.

[0133] As illustrated by the, the first cutting method initially comprises a step F10 of obtaining said at least one zone Z_{q} determined following the execution of the determination method.

[0134] The term “obtaining” here refers to a reception of one or more data files describing said at least one zone Z_{q}. Consequently, said step F10 is implemented by a reception module MOD_RX equipping the device DISP_2 and integrated into the communication means 5_2.

[0135] The reception of the data file(s) describing said at least one zone Z_{q} is for example subsequent to an appropriate request transmitted by the device DISP_2 to the system SYS_1, more particularly to the processing device DISP_1.

[0136] It should be noted that this implementation of step F10 is not limiting of the invention, and nothing excludes the possibility that the device DISP_2 is already in possession of the data file(s) describing said at least one zone Z_{q} when the first cutting process begins, this or these files being able for example to be stored in its non-volatile memory 4_2.

[0137] Therefore, and as illustrated by the, the first cutting method comprises a step F20 of generating at least one cutting command COM_SLICE of at least one glass plate in the continuous ribbon of glass as a function of said at least one zone Z_{q}. More particularly, said at least one command COM_SLICE is generated so that the number of defects located in said at least one zone is greater than a given threshold. Said step F20 is implemented by a generation module MOD_GEN equipping the device DISP_2.

[0138] Taking into account said at least one zone Z_{q} to generate said at least one COM_SLICE command is particularly advantageous insofar as said at least one zone Z_{q} has been specifically identified as being an area in which the defect removal capacity is significant. In other words, and with regard to the first cutting method, it is therefore a matter of taking advantage of this knowledge of said at least one zone Z_{q} to generate at least one appropriate COM_SLICE command, so that the cutting of the continuous ribbon of glass allows the placement of a sufficient number of defects in said at least one zone Z_{q}.

[0139] Conventionally, the generation of a cutting order at the canting level constitutes the end of a series of steps. Thus, a determined length of the glass ribbon is constantly analyzed to detect the present defects (position and size of the defects). This length is for example equal to 10 meters. Subsequently, depending on a priority of pieces of glass to be produced, a decision is made as to whether or not to cut the glass ribbon. More specifically, the highest priority for production is initially considered, and it is determined whether a suitable glass plate can be cut by being placed at the end of the ribbon (i.e. it is verified that the cutting of this glass plate respects the imposed defect thresholds). If the cutting is possible, it takes place and the glass ribbon is allowed to run again along the said determined length to restart the operations.If cutting is not possible for this highest priority, it is evaluated (as detailed previously) whether it can be done for the priority whose order follows that of said highest priority. The principle is thus iterated, with the understanding that if it is determined that no cutting of a glass plate is possible to produce expected pieces of glass, a cutting command is generated to produce a piece of cullet.

[0140] With regard to this conventional method of cutting the glass ribbon, the invention advantageously makes it possible to take into account the zone(s) Z_{q} when evaluating the possibility of cutting (for a given production priority) a glass plate. In this way, it is possible to considerably reduce the production of cullet.

[0141] Once said at least one COM_SLICE command has been generated, it is transmitted to the cutting means MOY_SLICE during a step F30. Said step F30 is implemented by a transmission module MOD_TX equipping the device DISP_2 and integrated into the communication means 5_2.

[0142] Upon receipt of said at least one COM_SLICE command by the cutting means MOY_SLICE (step F40), the latter carry out a step F50 of cutting said at least one glass plate in the continuous ribbon of glass (step F50 is referenced “DEC” in the).

[0143] Finally, and according to yet another aspect, the invention also relates to a system SYS_3 (not shown in the figures) for cutting the set ENS_PRIM_{i,j} of pieces of glass in at least one glass plate obtained by means of the first cutting method. To this end, said system SYS_3 is configured in a known manner to implement a second method (not shown in the figures) for cutting the pieces of glass of said set ENS_PRIM_{i,j} in said at least one glass plate.

Claims

A computer-implemented method for determining at least one area of ​​the surface of a glass plate, said method comprising steps of: - obtaining (E10) a plurality of cutting plans for the glass plate, each cutting plan being configured for cutting a given set of pieces of glass in the glass plate, each cutting plan being further optimized to eliminate a maximum number of defects during cutting from a set of defects associated with said cutting plan, - for each defect, determining (E20) an indicator representative of the number of cutting plans capable of eliminating said defect, - discretizing (E30) the surface of the glass plate into a plurality of slabs, - for each slab and as a function of the determined indicators, determining (E40) a score representative of a capacity to eliminate a localized defect during cutting in said slab, - determining (E50) at least one area of ​​the surface of the glass plate,said at least one zone comprising at least one slab and satisfying at least one criterion consisting in that the score of said at least one zone is greater than a given threshold, the score of a zone being representative of the scores respectively associated with the slabs forming said zone., Method according to claim 1, in which the combination of the sets of defects respectively associated with the cutting planes forms a distribution of defects distributed homogeneously on the surface of the glass plate. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, in which the pieces of glass to be cut are characterized by a set of parameters comprising:- respective dimensions of the pieces of glass,- a number of pieces of glass to be cut in the glass plate. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of parameters comprises respective quality indicators of the pieces of glass. Method according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein:- at least one parameter of the set of parameters comes from a history of parameters used during at least one past glass production campaign, and / or- at least one parameter of the set of parameters is a simulated parameter. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the number of slabs is between 1 and 100. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the indicator associated with a defect is equal to the number of cutting planes capable of eliminating said defect, the score of a slab corresponding to the sum of the indicators respectively associated with the defects located in said slab. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the step (E50) of determining said at least one zone is implemented so as to satisfy yet another criterion consisting in the size of said at least one zone being included in a given interval. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the step (E50) of determining said at least one zone is implemented so as to satisfy yet another criterion consisting in the number of zones determined being less than a given threshold. Method according to any one of 1 to 9, in which the step (E50) of determining said at least one zone comprises an optimization of a cost function parameterized by said at least one criterion. Method for cutting at least one glass plate from a continuous ribbon of glass, said cutting method being carried out from at least one area determined in accordance with a determination method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and in which the cutting of said at least one glass plate is carried out so that the number of defects located in said at least one area is greater than a given threshold. Method of cutting a given set of pieces of glass from at least one glass plate obtained using a method according to claim 11. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing steps of:- a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or- a cutting method according to claim 11, or- a cutting method according to claim 12, when said computer program is executed by a computer. A computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program according to claim 13 is recorded. System comprising means configured to implement:- a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or- a cutting method according to claim 11, or- a cutting method according to claim 12.

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