Float Glass Crushing Plant with Horizontal Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for cutting and crushing float glass are inefficient and require significant space, leading to potential damage of glass edges and suboptimal production of high-quality sections or individual panes.
Innovation Solution
A crushing system for float glass that includes a first breaking station for breaking glass along a score line in the X-direction, a second breaking station for breaking crosspieces along a score line in the Y-direction, and a transport device for moving glass and sections in a horizontal working plane without rotation, allowing for efficient and compact production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If glass sheets are broken into blanks while oriented substantially vertically with turning stations, then complete separation of subsections is achieved, but the system requires significant space and increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of breaking glass while oriented vertically and then turning it, the patent inverts the approach by breaking the glass while it remains in horizontal orientation throughout the process. The glass sheet is broken into traverses and then into sections without any turning stations, simplifying the system architecture while achieving complete separation of subsections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the turning stations from the system. By removing these complex rotational components, the system achieves the same breaking function with simpler horizontal orientation maintenance, reducing device complexity while preserving manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If turning stations are used to rotate glass 90° between breaking stations, then crosspieces can be broken in both X and Y directions, but space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the glass 90° between breaking stations, the patent inverts the approach by maintaining horizontal orientation throughout. Multiple breaking stations operate in sequence on horizontally oriented glass, eliminating the need for turning stations and significantly reducing space requirements while achieving breaking in both X and Y directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical-then-horizontal breaking sequence (requiring turning) to a purely horizontal breaking sequence. By operating all breaking stations in the horizontal plane with the glass maintaining its orientation, the system achieves multi-directional breaking without the space-consuming vertical transitions.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex turning technology is employed to reorient glass for subsequent breaking, then complete subdivision is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the turning operations from the process. By maintaining consistent horizontal orientation throughout the breaking process, the system achieves complete subdivision without the energy-consuming rotational movements required by turning stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes continuous horizontal breaking operations without interruption for turning. The glass sheet moves continuously through multiple breaking stations in the same orientation, eliminating energy-wasting stop-and-turn cycles and maintaining continuous useful action throughout the subdivision process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables the efficient production of high-quality glass sections or individual panes with minimal space requirements, reducing the risk of glass edge damage and improving energy efficiency by eliminating the need for complex turning technology.
Implementation Method 1
mechanically deform the float glass at the scoring line and to initiate the break
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A crushing plant (1) for float glass, comprising a first crushing station (3) with at least one first crushing device (3a) for crushing the float glass (2) along a score line previously applied to the float glass (2) in a first direction (X) in order to separate a crosspiece (2a) of the float glass (2), a second crushing station (4) with at least one second crushing device (4a, 4b) for crushing the crosspiece (2a) along a score line previously applied to the float glass (2) in a second direction (Y) which is perpendicular to the first direction (X), and a transport device for transporting the float glass (2), the crosspiece (2a) and sections thereof through the crushing plant (1) in a preferably horizontal working plane in a first linear transport direction (T1).The second breaking station (4) is arranged downstream of the first breaking station (3) in the first transport direction (T1) and is designed to break the crossbeam (2a) by means of the at least one second breaking device (4a, 4b) without rotating the crossbeam (2a) relative to the first transport direction (T1). Preferably, the at least one first breaking device (3a) and in any case the at least one second breaking device (4a, 4b) are stationary with respect to the transport direction of the float glass or the crossbeam (2a). The at least one first breaking device (3a) and/or the at least one second breaking device (4a, 4b) each have an elongated breaking rail or breaking bar (11) and an elongated counterholder (12).