Glass Bending Apparatus with Roller Position Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass sheet bending techniques face challenges in maintaining accuracy, especially when forming complex shapes with multiple curvature radii, as the up-down movement of conveying rollers must be precisely timed and controlled to ensure the glass sheet is properly positioned on the curved plane, which is difficult to achieve with conventional methods.
Innovation Solution
A bending apparatus and method that incorporates a glass-position-detecting system to accurately determine the glass sheet's position and control the up-down movement of conveying rollers in real-time, ensuring the glass sheet is correctly positioned on the curved plane by synchronizing the movement with the glass sheet's conveyance, allowing for high-precision bending of complex shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the up-down movement of conveying rollers is precisely timed and controlled to ensure proper positioning of the glass sheet on the curved plane, then the manufacturing precision of complex shapes is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of control increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system that detects the actual position of the glass sheet on the conveying rollers and adjusts the up-down movement timing and amount of each roller accordingly. The control unit receives position detection signals, calculates the deviation from the ideal position, and modifies the roller movement parameters to compensate for the deviation, thereby achieving precise positioning without requiring overly complex manual control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning mechanisms with an automated control system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators. Instead of relying on mechanical linkages and manual adjustments to position the glass sheet, the system uses electronic detection of glass sheet position and automated control of roller movement, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining high precision
2Shape
If the curved plane is formed by moving up and down conveying rollers in synchronism with glass sheet conveyance, then the glass sheet can be bent into desired curvature, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates when the glass sheet is not properly positioned on the curved plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the conveying rollers dynamically adjustable in both position and timing. Each roller can be independently controlled to move up and down at variable speeds and at variable times relative to the glass sheet's position. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to different glass sheet positions and maintain proper alignment, enabling both curved plane formation and high positioning accuracy simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the conveying roller system into independently controllable segments. Each roller can be controlled separately in terms of up-down movement timing and amount, allowing individual adjustment to compensate for positioning deviations. This segmentation enables precise control over the curved plane formation while maintaining accuracy even when the glass sheet position varies
3Manufacturing precision
If a positioner is used to position the glass sheet, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the heated glass sheet is susceptible to distortion and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs positioning actions continuously during the conveyance process rather than using a separate positioning step. The control unit continuously adjusts the up-down movement of conveying rollers based on real-time position detection, effectively positioning the glass sheet on the curved plane throughout the bending process. This eliminates the need for a separate positioning operation that would require stopping the conveyance line and reduces distortion from repeated contact with positioners
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
This approach enables high-accuracy bending of glass sheets with complex shapes by ensuring the glass sheet is accurately positioned on the curved plane, improving the forming accuracy and repeatability, even when multiple curvature radii are involved, and simplifies the control system by memorizing start addresses and operation patterns.
Implementation Method 1
the glass sheet is bent downward by its own weight so as to follow the curved plane formed on the conveying plane
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a bending apparatus and a bending method for a glass sheet, which realize bending of a glass sheet with high precision by carrying out up-down movement of each of conveying rollers at an appropriate timing with an appropriate amount. A bending apparatus for a glass sheet comprising a roller conveyer having a plurality of conveying rollers for conveying a glass sheet heated by a heating furnace in a conveying direction; and a servomotor for moving each of the conveying rollers up and down in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to form a predetermined curved plane on a conveying plane defined by the plurality of conveying rollers and moving the curved plane in the conveying direction along with movement of the glass sheet in the conveying direction so as to bend the glass sheet along the conveying direction; wherein the bending apparatus for a glass sheet further comprises an optoelectric sensor and a pulse generator for detecting a position information of the glass sheet on the roller conveyer; and a controlling means for controlling the up and down movement of each of the conveying rollers by the servomotor in accordance with the detected position information so as to form a predetermined curved plane on the conveying plane in accordance with the position of the glass sheet.