Glass production method and glass production device

Abstract

Provided is a glass production method which comprises: conveying a glass plate (100) in a first direction, which is the conveyance direction of the glass plate (100), on a plurality of rollers (10) that are arranged at intervals in the first direction; and rotating the glass plate (100) on the plurality of rollers (10) by individually moving each of the rollers (10) in a second direction along the rotation center line of each of the rollers (10) in a first region (A1) in the conveyance path of the glass plate (100). Also provided is a glass production method which comprises: increasing the moving speed of each of the rollers (10) in the second direction to a set speed before the glass plate (100) starts riding on each of the rollers (10) in the first region (A1); and decreasing the moving speed of each of the rollers (10) in the second direction while the glass plate (100) is riding on each of the rollers (10).

Description

Glass manufacturing method and glass manufacturing apparatus

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a glass manufacturing method and a glass manufacturing apparatus. This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-198122 filed in Japan on November 13, 2024, and incorporates its content herein by reference.

[0002] The method for aligning a glass plate described in Patent Document 1 includes rotating the glass plate on a plurality of rollers while transporting the glass plate on the plurality of rollers. Rotating the glass plate is achieved by moving the rollers in a direction along the rotation center line of the rollers. Each roller starts moving when the glass plate is placed thereon (see Claim 4, Paragraphs 0040 and 0042 of Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 4776859 (B)

[0004] Generally, when a rotating body rotates about the center of gravity of the rotating body, each part of the rotating body rotates faster the farther it is from the rotation center (center of gravity). The rotational speed is represented by the product of the distance from the rotation center of each part of the rotating body and the angular velocity of the rotating body. Note that the angular velocity is the same at each part of the rotating body.

[0005] Conventional rollers start moving when a glass plate is placed thereon, accelerate to a set speed, and decelerate from the set speed. The rollers on which the glass plate starts to ride move at a slower speed even though they are farther from the center of gravity of the glass plate than the rollers on which the glass plate is already placed. Therefore, the glass plate may not rotate smoothly.

[0006] An object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a glass manufacturing method and a glass manufacturing apparatus capable of smoothly rotating a glass plate during transportation of the glass plate.

[0007] A glass manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: conveying a glass plate in a first direction on a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals in a first direction, which is the conveying direction of the glass plate; and rotating the glass plate on the plurality of rollers by individually moving each of the rollers in a second direction along the rotation centerline of each roller in a first region of the conveying path of the glass plate. The glass manufacturing method comprises accelerating the moving speed of each roller in the second direction to a set speed in the first region before the glass plate begins to ride on each of the rollers, and decelerating the moving speed of each roller in the second direction while the glass plate is on each of the rollers.

[0008] Furthermore, a glass manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals in a first direction which is the direction in which a glass plate is transported; a rotational drive transmission mechanism that rotates each roller about the rotational centerline of each roller; a moving mechanism that moves each roller individually in a second direction along the rotational centerline of each roller in a first region of the glass plate transport path; and a control device that controls the rotational drive transmission mechanism and the moving mechanism to rotate the glass plate on the plurality of rollers while transporting the glass plate on the plurality of rollers in the first direction. The control device accelerates the moving speed of each roller in the second direction to a set speed in the first region before the glass plate starts to ride on each roller, and controls the moving speed of each roller in the second direction to decrease while the glass plate is on each roller.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the glass plate can be smoothly rotated during transport.

[0010] Figure 1 is a side view showing a glass manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a graph showing an example of the time variation of V2 and V3 of each roller in the first and second regions. Figure 3 is a plan view showing an example of each roller and glass plate at time t1. Figure 4 is a plan view showing an example of each roller and glass plate at time t2. Figure 5 is a plan view showing an example of each roller and glass plate at time t3. Figure 6 is a plan view showing an example of each roller and glass plate at time t4. Figure 7 is a plan view showing an example of each roller and glass plate at time t5. Figure 8 is a plan view showing an example of each roller and glass plate at time t6. Figure 9 is a plan view showing an example of each roller and glass plate at time t7.

[0011] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, identical or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions may be omitted. In each drawing, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions are perpendicular to each other, the X-axis and Y-axis directions are horizontal, and the Z-axis direction is vertical.

[0012] The X-axis direction includes the positive X-axis direction and the negative X-axis direction, which is the opposite direction to the positive X-axis direction. The Y-axis direction includes the positive Y-axis direction and the negative Y-axis direction, which is the opposite direction to the positive Y-axis direction. The Z-axis direction includes the positive Z-axis direction and the negative Z-axis direction, which is the opposite direction to the positive Z-axis direction. The positive X-axis direction is an example of the first direction, the negative Y-axis direction is an example of the second direction, and the positive Y-axis direction is an example of the third direction.

[0013] The first direction is the direction in which the glass plate is transported. As described above, the first direction in this embodiment is the positive X-axis direction and is horizontal, but it may also be diagonally upward or diagonally downward. The second and third directions are directions along the rotation centerline of the roller. The second direction is the direction in which the roller moves when the glass plate is rotated.

[0014] A glass manufacturing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described mainly with reference to Figure 1. The glass manufacturing apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of rollers 10. The plurality of rollers 10 are arranged at intervals in a first direction (for example, the positive X-axis direction), which is the transport direction of the glass plate 100. The glass plate 100 rests on the plurality of rollers 10.

[0015] Multiple rollers 10 transport the glass plates 100 in a first direction. The multiple glass plates 100 may be arranged at intervals in the first direction. The multiple rollers 10 can transport the multiple glass plates 100 in the first direction while maintaining the spacing between adjacent glass plates 100.

[0016] The glass manufacturing apparatus 1 is equipped with a rotating mechanism 20. The rotating mechanism 20 rotates each roller 10 around the rotational centerline of each roller 10. The rotational centerlines are arranged horizontally. By rotating each roller 10, the rotating mechanism 20 causes each roller 10 to transport the glass plate 100 in a first direction. The transport speed of the glass plate 100 is proportional to the product of the radius and angular velocity of each roller 10.

[0017] The rotating mechanism 20 includes, for example, a motor and a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational motion of the motor to each roller 10. The transmission mechanism includes, for example, gears, a timing belt, or a chain. The number of motors may be the same as the number of rollers 10, or it may be less than the number of rollers 10. The rotating mechanism 20 rotates multiple rollers 10 that are in contact with the glass plate 100 simultaneously at the same conveying speed. The combination of multiple rollers 10 that are in contact with a single glass plate 100 simultaneously moves in a first direction over time.

[0018] The glass manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a moving mechanism 30. The moving mechanism 30 moves each roller 10 individually in a second direction (for example, the negative Y-axis direction) along the rotation centerline of each roller 10 in the first region A1 of the transport path of the glass plate 100, thereby rotating the glass plate 100 on multiple rollers 10 (see Figures 3 to 7). As will be described in more detail later, the glass plate 100 can be rotated clockwise when viewed from above the transport path of the glass plate 100.

[0019] Furthermore, when viewed from above the transport path of the glass plate 100, it is also possible to rotate the glass plate 100 counterclockwise. To rotate the glass plate 100 counterclockwise, each roller 10 should be moved in the positive direction of the Y-axis. In this case, the positive direction of the Y-axis is the second direction. It is also possible to determine the rotation direction of each glass plate 100 individually.

[0020] The moving mechanism 30 moves each roller 10 in the second direction under the control of the control device 90 so that the rotation angle θ of the glass plate 100 (see Figures 3 to 7) becomes the set angle. The rotation angle θ of the glass plate 100 is represented, for example, by the angle between the first reference line L1 and the second reference line L2. The set angle is, for example, 0 degrees.

[0021] The first reference line L1 is set based on the outer shape of the glass plate 100 and is set to pass through the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100. The second reference line L2 is set parallel to the third reference line L3, which will be described later, and is set to pass through the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100. The third reference line L3 is set in the transport path of the glass plate 100 and is set in the center in the width direction of the transport path. The second reference line L2 and the third reference line L3 extend in the first direction.

[0022] When the roller 10 is moved in a second direction to rotate the glass plate 100 clockwise or counterclockwise, as viewed from above the transport path of the glass plate 100, the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100 shifts in the second direction (see Figures 3 to 7). The greater the amount of rotation of the glass plate 100, the greater the amount of shift of the center of gravity 100P in the second direction.

[0023] As described above, the rotation of the glass plate 100 shifts the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100 in the second direction. However, before the rotation of the glass plate 100, the center of gravity 100P may be shifted from the third reference line L3 in the second direction or in the third direction opposite to the second direction. Therefore, after the rotation of the glass plate 100, the center of gravity 100P may be shifted to either the left or right side of the third reference line L3.

[0024] The moving mechanism 30 can also move the glass plate 100 in a second or third direction in parallel with the glass plate 100 in the second region A2 of the transport path of the glass plate 100, together with the multiple rollers 10 that simultaneously contact the glass plate 100 (see Figures 7-8). The center of gravity position 100P can be moved in the second or third direction while maintaining the rotation angle θ.

[0025] The moving mechanism 30, under the control of the control device 90, moves the multiple rollers 10 that simultaneously contact the glass plate 100 in the second or third direction so as to minimize the discrepancy between the center of gravity position 100P and the set position in the second or third direction. The set position is, for example, the position of the third reference line L3. In the parallel movement of the glass plate 100, the multiple rollers 10 that simultaneously contact the glass plate 100 move at the same speed and in the same direction.

[0026] Furthermore, the transport path for the glass plate 100 only requires the first region A1 to be set, and the second region A2 does not need to be set. In other words, the glass plate 100 only needs to rotate in the transport path, and it does not need to be translated. However, if the second region A2 is set in addition to the first region A1, the center of gravity position 100P can be controlled in addition to the rotation angle θ.

[0027] It is preferable that a part of the first region A1 and a part of the second region A2 overlap. It is preferable that at least one (preferably more) rollers 10 are arranged in the third region A3 where a part of the first region A1 and a part of the second region A2 overlap. It is preferable that at least one (preferably more) rollers 10 are used for both the rotation of the glass plate 100 and the parallel movement of the glass plate 100. This makes it possible to shorten the length of the transport path for the glass plate 100.

[0028] Furthermore, the arrangement of the first region A1 and the second region A2 is not particularly limited. The first region A1 and the second region A2 may be completely separate.

[0029] It is preferable that at least a portion (preferably only a portion) of the second region A2 is positioned downstream of the glass plate 100 in the transport direction compared to the entire first region A1. In other words, it is preferable that the parallel movement of the glass plate 100 is performed after the rotation of the glass plate 100. The glass plate 100 can be parallel moved after confirming the shift in the Y-axis direction of the center of gravity position 100P caused by the rotation of the glass plate 100.

[0030] Furthermore, there is a correlation between the amount of rotation of the glass plate 100 and the amount of shift in the Y-axis direction of the center of gravity position 100P caused by the rotation of the glass plate 100. Therefore, the amount of shift can be predicted from the amount of rotation. Thus, if the amount of rotation of the glass plate 100 is predetermined, it is possible to perform a parallel translation of the glass plate 100 before the rotation of the glass plate 100.

[0031] The moving mechanism 30 includes, for example, a motor and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into the linear motion of each roller 10. The conversion mechanism includes, for example, a ball screw. Preferably, the number of motors is the same as the number of rollers 10. The moving mechanism 30 moves the multiple rollers 10 individually in a second or third direction within the first region A1.

[0032] The glass manufacturing apparatus 1 preferably includes a camera 40. The camera 40 captures an image of the upper or lower surface of the glass plate 100 along the transport path of the glass plate 100. Hereinafter, the image of the glass plate 100 captured by the camera 40 may be simply referred to as the image of the glass plate 100. In this embodiment, the camera 40 is a line sensor camera, but it may also be an area sensor camera.

[0033] The camera 40 may image the glass plate 100 via the mirror 41. In this embodiment, the camera 40 and mirror 41 are provided below the transport path of the glass plate 100, but they may also be provided above the transport path of the glass plate 100. In addition, a light source 42 may be provided on the opposite side of the transport path of the glass plate 100 from the mirror 41.

[0034] When an image of the glass plate 100 is used to control the rotation of the glass plate 100, the camera 40 images the glass plate 100 before it rotates. In this case, the camera 40 images the glass plate 100 upstream of the first region A1 in the transport direction of the glass plate 100. The difference between the rotation angle θ and the set angle can be measured, and the amount and direction of rotation can be set so that this difference is small. Hereinafter, the difference between the rotation angle θ and the set angle may be simply referred to as the difference in the rotation angle θ.

[0035] Although not shown in the diagram, there may be multiple cameras 40, and the cameras 40 may image the glass plate 100 after it has rotated. After the rotation of the glass plate 100, the deviation of the rotation angle θ can be measured. If the deviation of the rotation angle θ after the rotation of the glass plate 100 is greater than or equal to a threshold, a correction value for the amount of rotation is calculated. The correction value is used to control the rotation of the glass plate 100 in subsequent rotations. This makes it possible to reduce the deviation of the rotation angle θ after the rotation of the glass plate 100 in subsequent rotations.

[0036] When an image of the glass plate 100 is used to control the parallel movement of the glass plate 100, the camera 40 images the glass plate 100 before the parallel movement of the glass plate 100. In this case, the camera 40 images the glass plate 100 upstream of the second region A2 in the transport direction of the glass plate 100. The difference between the center of gravity position 100P and the set position can be measured, and the amount and direction of parallel movement of the glass plate 100 can be set so that this difference is small. Hereinafter, the difference between the center of gravity position 100P and the set position may be simply referred to as the difference of the center of gravity position 100P.

[0037] Although not shown in the diagram, there may be multiple cameras 40, and the cameras 40 may image the glass plate 100 after it has been moved. After the glass plate 100 has been moved, the displacement of the center of gravity position 100P can be measured. If the displacement of the center of gravity position 100P after the glass plate 100 has been moved is greater than or equal to a threshold, a correction value for the amount of movement is calculated. The correction value is used to control the subsequent movement of the glass plate 100. This makes it possible to reduce the displacement of the center of gravity position 100P after the subsequent movement of the glass plate 100.

[0038] From a cost standpoint, it is preferable to have only one camera 40. When there is only one camera 40, the camera 40 is positioned upstream of both the first region A1 and the second region A2 in the transport direction of the glass plate 100. Before the rotation and translation of the glass plate 100, the camera 40 images the glass plate 100. This allows the deviation of the rotation angle θ and the deviation of the center of gravity position 100P to be measured before the rotation and translation of the glass plate 100. Subsequently, the amount and direction of rotation of the glass plate 100 can be set based on the deviation of the rotation angle θ. The glass plate 100 is rotated according to the setting. Furthermore, the amount and direction of shift of the center of gravity position 100P can be predicted based on the amount and direction of rotation of the glass plate 100. Therefore, the deviation of the center of gravity position 100P after the rotation of the glass plate 100 can be predicted. Thus, the amount and direction of translation of the glass plate 100 can be set. The glass plate 100 is translated according to the setting.

[0039] It is preferable to measure in advance the relationship between the amount of rotation of the glass plate 100 and the amount of shift of the center of gravity position 100P in the second direction due to the rotation of the glass plate 100. The above relationship should be measured in advance for each dimension, shape, or weight of the glass plate 100. The relationship measured in advance should be stored in the storage unit 92 of the control device 90, for example, in the form of an approximate formula, and read out and used as needed.

[0040] The glass manufacturing apparatus 1 preferably includes a molding apparatus 50. The molding apparatus 50 bends the glass plate 100 along its transport path. The bending process can be press forming or gravity bending. The molding apparatus 50 bends the glass plate 100 downstream of the first region A1 and the second region A2 in the transport direction of the glass plate 100. This allows the bending process to be carried out after the glass plate 100 has been positioned correctly.

[0041] Furthermore, the device provided downstream of the first region A1 and the second region A2 in the transport direction of the glass plate 100 is not limited to the molding device 50, but may be, for example, an air-cooling strengthening device. This allows the air-cooling strengthening of the glass plate 100 to be performed after the orientation of the glass plate 100 has been adjusted.

[0042] The glass manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a control device 90. The control device 90 is, for example, a computer. The control device 90 includes an arithmetic unit 91 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit 92 such as a memory. A program for controlling various processes executed in the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 is stored in the storage unit 92. The control device 90 controls the operation of the glass manufacturing apparatus 1 by causing the arithmetic unit 91 to execute the program stored in the storage unit 92.

[0043] The control device 90 includes an electronic circuit such as a CPU, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and executes various control operations described in this specification by executing instruction codes stored in a memory or by being circuit-designed for specific use.

[0044] Next, an example of the control of the rotation of the glass plate 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. In FIGS. 2 to 7 and FIGS. 8 to 9 described later, V2 represents the moving speed of each roller 10A to 10G in the second direction (for example, the negative Y-axis direction), and V3 represents the moving speed of each roller 10A to 10G in the third direction (for example, the positive Y-axis direction).

[0045] A plurality of (for example, seven) rollers 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, and 10G are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. In the first region A1, for example, six rollers 10A to 10F are arranged. In the first region A1, the rotation of the glass plate 100 is controlled.

[0046] Incidentally, in the second region A2, for example, six rollers 10B to 10G are arranged. In the second region A2, the parallel movement of the glass plate 100 is controlled. In the third region A3 where the first region A1 and the second region A2 overlap, for example, five rollers 10B to 10F are arranged. The five rollers 10B to 10F are used for both the control of the rotation of the glass plate 100 and the control of the parallel movement of the glass plate 100.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, before the glass plate 100 starts to ride on each of the rollers 10A to 10F (including simultaneously), the control device 90 accelerates the moving speed V2 of each of the rollers 10A to 10F in the second direction to the set speed. The set speed is the same for all the rollers 10A to 10F arranged in the first region A1, but may be different. It is preferable that at the timing when the glass plate 100 starts to ride on each of the rollers 10A to 10F, the moving speed V2 of each of the rollers 10A to 10F reaches the set speed and starts to decelerate simultaneously.

[0048] In the first region A1, before the glass plate 100 starts to ride on each of the rollers 10A to 10F (including simultaneously), the control device 90 starts to decelerate the moving speed V2 of each of the rollers 10A to 10F in the second direction. It is preferable that at the timing when the glass plate 100 starts to ride, the moving speed V2 of each of the rollers 10A to 10F starts to decelerate. The control device 90 decelerates the moving speed V2 of each of the rollers of 10A to 10F in the second direction while the glass plate 100 is riding on each of the rollers 10A to 10F.

[0049] Generally, when a rotating body rotates about the center of gravity of the rotating body, each part of the rotating body rotates faster the farther it is from the center of rotation (center of gravity). The rotational speed is represented by the product of the distance of each part of the rotating body from the center of rotation and the angle of the rotating body. Note that the angular velocity is the same for each part of the rotating body. ​​​​For example, as shown in Figure 5, it is preferable that the multiple rollers 10A to 10C that simultaneously contact the glass plate 100 in the first region A1 have a larger moving speed V2 in the second direction as they move downstream in the transport direction of the glass plate 100 from the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100. Similarly, as shown in Figure 6, it is preferable that the multiple rollers 10B to 10D that simultaneously contact the glass plate 100 in the first region A1 have a larger moving speed V2 in the second direction as they move downstream in the transport direction of the glass plate 100 from the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100.

[0052] The control device 90 preferably reduces the movement speed V2 of each roller 10A and 10B in the second direction to zero before the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100 passes each roller 10A and 10B in the first region A1 (including when they pass each roller 10A and 10B simultaneously). This prevents the generation of a rotational moment that hinders the rotation of the glass plate 100 upstream of the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100 in the transport direction.

[0053] As shown in Figure 6, for example, the control device 90 preferably does not move the rollers 10A and 10B in the second or third direction after the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100 has passed each roller 10A and 10B in the first region A1, until the entire glass plate 100 has passed each roller 10A and 10B. This prevents the generation of a rotational moment that would hinder the rotation of the glass plate 100.

[0054] Although not shown, the control device 90 preferably moves the rollers 10A and 10B in a third direction after the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100 has passed each roller 10A and 10B in the first region A1, until the entire glass plate 100 has passed each roller 10A and 10B. This makes it possible to generate a rotational moment that promotes the rotation of the glass plate 100 upstream of the center of gravity position 100P in the transport direction.

[0055] When generating a rotational moment that promotes the rotation of the glass plate 100 upstream of the center of gravity position 100P in the transport direction of the glass plate 100, it is preferable to perform the following control. It is preferable that the moving speed V3 in the third direction of the multiple rollers 10A and 10B that simultaneously contact the glass plate 100 in the first region A1 increases as you move upstream of the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100 in the transport direction of the glass plate 100.

[0056] Referring again to Figures 2 to 7, an example of each roller 10A to 10F and the glass plate 100 at times t1 to t5 will be described. Hereinafter, among all the rollers 10A to 10G arranged in the first region A1 and the second region A2, the k-th roller from the upstream side in the conveying direction may be simply referred to as the k-th roller.

[0057] At time t1, as shown in Figure 3, the glass plate 100 is just about to come onto the first roller 10A, and the speed V2 of the first roller 10A is accelerating. After time t1, the speed V2 of the first roller 10A reaches the set speed and begins to decelerate at the moment the glass plate 100 starts to come onto it.

[0058] At time t2, as shown in Figure 4, the glass plate 100 is already on the first roller 10A and is about to be placed on the second roller 10B. At time t2, the speed V2 of the first roller 10A is decelerating, and the speed V2 of the second roller 10B is accelerating. After time t2, the speed V2 of the second roller 10B reaches the set speed and begins to decelerate at the moment the glass plate 100 starts to be placed on it.

[0059] At time t3, as shown in Figure 5, the glass plate 100 is already on the first and second rollers 10A to 10B, and is just beginning to move onto the third roller 10C. At time t3, the moving speed V2 of the first to third rollers 10A to 10C is decreasing.

[0060] Furthermore, at time t3, the first to third rollers 10A to 10C are simultaneously in contact with the glass plate 100 and are located downstream of the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100 in the transport direction. The movement speed V2 of the first to third rollers 10A to 10C increases as they move downstream from the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100 in the transport direction.

[0061] At time t4, as shown in Figure 6, the glass plate 100 is already on the first to third rollers 10A to 10C and is just beginning to move onto the fourth roller 10D. At time t4, the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100 has reached the first roller 10A, and the moving speeds V2 and V3 of the first roller 10A are zero. At time t4, the moving speed V2 of the second to fourth rollers 10B to 10D is decelerating.

[0062] Furthermore, at time t4, the second to fourth rollers 10B to 10D are simultaneously in contact with the glass plate 100 and are located downstream of the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100 in the transport direction. The movement speed V2 of the second to fourth rollers 10B to 10D increases as they move downstream from the center of gravity 100P of the glass plate 100 in the transport direction. Note that the movement speeds V2 and V3 of the first roller 10A are zero.

[0063] At time t5, as shown in Figure 7, the rotation of the glass plate 100 is completed, and the rotation angle θ of the glass plate 100 becomes the set angle. At time t5, all rollers 10A to 10G located in the first region A1 and the second region A2 do not move in either the second or third direction. At time t5, the moving speeds V2 and V3 of all rollers 10A to 10G located in the first region A1 and the second region A2 are zero.

[0064] An example of controlling the parallel movement of the glass plate 100 will be described with reference to Figures 2, 7, and 8. In the second region A2, the control device 90 moves the glass plate 100 in a third direction in parallel with a plurality of rollers 10B to 10G that are simultaneously in contact with the glass plate 100. During the parallel movement of the glass plate 100, the plurality of rollers 10B to 10G that are simultaneously in contact with the glass plate 100 move at the same speed and in the same direction.

[0065] At time t6, as shown in Figure 8, the parallel movement of the glass plate 100 is completed, and the center of gravity position 100P of the glass plate 100 is at the set position. At time t6, all rollers 10A to 10G located in the first region A1 and the second region A2 do not move in either the second or third direction. At time t6, the moving speeds V2 and V3 of all rollers 10A to 10G located in the first region A1 and the second region A2 are zero.

[0066] After the parallel movement of the glass plate 100 is complete, each roller 10A to 10G returns to its original position after the entire glass plate 100 has passed through each roller 10A to 10G (see Figure 9). At time t7, the first and second rollers 10A to 10B have already returned to their original positions, and the third roller 10C is moving towards its original position. After time t7, the fourth to seventh rollers 10D to 10G move sequentially back to their original positions.

[0067] The glass manufacturing method and glass manufacturing apparatus described above are not limited to the embodiments described herein. Various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions, deletions, and combinations are possible within the scope of the claims. These also naturally fall within the technical scope of this disclosure.

[0068] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that allows glass plates to rotate smoothly during transport.

[0069] 1 Glass manufacturing apparatus 10 Rollers 20 Rotating mechanism 30 Moving mechanism 40 Camera 50 Molding apparatus 90 Control device 100 Glass plate A1 First area A2 Second area A3 Third area

Claims

1. A glass manufacturing method comprising: conveying a glass plate in a first direction on a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals in a first direction which is the conveying direction of the glass plate; and rotating the glass plate on a plurality of rollers by individually moving each of the rollers in a second direction along the rotation centerline of each roller in a first region of the conveying path of the glass plate, wherein in the first region, before the glass plate begins to ride on each of the rollers, the moving speed of each of the rollers in the second direction is accelerated to a set speed, and while the glass plate is riding on each of the rollers, the moving speed of each of the rollers in the second direction is decelerated.

2. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the speed of movement in the second direction of the plurality of rollers that simultaneously contact the glass plate in the first region increases as they move downstream from the center of gravity of the glass plate in the transport direction.

3. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 1, further comprising reducing the moving speed of each roller in the second direction to zero before the center of gravity of the glass plate passes each roller in the first region.

4. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 3, wherein, in the first region, after the center of gravity of the glass plate has passed each of the rollers, each of the rollers is not moved in either the second direction or the third direction opposite to the second direction until the entire glass plate has passed each of the rollers.

5. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 3, wherein, in the first region, after the center of gravity of the glass plate has passed each of the rollers, each of the rollers is moved in a third direction opposite to the second direction until the entire glass plate has passed each of the rollers.

6. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 1, comprising: imaging the upper or lower surface of the glass plate with a camera upstream of the first region in the transport direction of the glass plate; determining the difference between the rotation angle of the glass plate and a set angle based on the image captured by the camera; and rotating the glass plate so that the difference between the rotation angle and the set angle becomes small.

7. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 6, comprising moving the glass plate in parallel in the second direction or in a third direction opposite to the second direction, together with a plurality of rollers that simultaneously contact the glass plate, in a second region of the transport path for the glass plate.

8. A glass manufacturing method according to claim 7, comprising: determining, based on an image captured by the camera upstream of the first and second regions in the transport direction of the glass plate, the difference between the rotation angle and the set angle, as well as the difference between the center of gravity of the glass plate and the set position in the second or third direction; and determining the amount of movement to move the glass plate in the third direction based on the difference between the center of gravity and the set position and the difference between the rotation angle and the set angle.

9. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 7, wherein a part of the first region and a part of the second region overlap, and at least one of the rollers is arranged in the third region where a part of the first region and a part of the second region overlap.

10. The glass manufacturing method according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the second region is located downstream in the transport direction of the entire first region.

11. A glass manufacturing apparatus comprising: a plurality of rollers arranged at intervals in a first direction which is the direction in which a glass plate is transported; a rotation mechanism for rotating each of the rollers about the rotation centerline of each roller; a movement mechanism for individually moving each of the rollers in a second direction along the rotation centerline of each roller in a first region of the transport path of the glass plate; and a control device that controls the rotation mechanism and the movement mechanism to transport the glass plate on the plurality of rollers in the first direction while rotating the glass plate on the plurality of rollers, wherein the control device accelerates the movement speed of each of the rollers in the second direction to a set speed in the first region before the glass plate starts to ride on each of the rollers, and controls the movement speed of each of the rollers in the second direction to decrease while the glass plate is on each of the rollers.

12. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the speed of movement in the second direction of the plurality of rollers that simultaneously contact the glass plate in the first region increases as they move downstream from the center of gravity of the glass plate in the transport direction.

13. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control device controls the movement speed of each roller in the second direction to zero before the center of gravity of the glass plate passes each roller in the first region.

14. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control device, in the first region, controls the rollers not to move in the second direction or the third direction opposite to the second direction until the entire glass plate has passed each roller.

15. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control device, in the first region, controls each roller to move in a third direction opposite to the second direction until the entire glass plate has passed each roller, after the center of gravity of the glass plate has passed each roller.

16. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a camera for imaging the upper or lower surface of the glass plate upstream of the first region in the transport direction of the glass plate, wherein the control device performs the following based on the image captured by the camera: control to determine the difference between the rotation angle of the glass plate and a set angle, and control to rotate the glass plate so that the difference between the rotation angle and the set angle becomes small.

17. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control device controls the glass plate to move in parallel in the second direction or in a third direction opposite to the second direction, together with a plurality of rollers that simultaneously contact the glass plate in the second region of the transport path of the glass plate.

18. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the camera images the upper or lower surface of the glass plate upstream of the first and second regions in the transport direction of the glass plate, and the control device performs the following based on the image captured by the camera: control to determine the difference between the rotation angle and the set angle, as well as the difference between the center of gravity of the glass plate and the set position in the second or third direction; and control to determine the amount of movement of the glass plate in the third direction based on the difference between the center of gravity and the set position and the difference between the rotation angle and the set angle.

19. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a part of the first region and a part of the second region overlap, and at least one of the rollers is arranged in the third region where a part of the first region and a part of the second region overlap.

20. The glass manufacturing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the second region is located downstream in the transport direction of the entire first region.

Images