Glass Sheet Corner Rounding with Dual Spindles and Shorter Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing corner rounding apparatuses for glass sheets require axial movement of the spindle to exchange tools, leading to increased travel distance and reduced productivity due to the need for spacing between glass sheets, and cannot efficiently process both head and tail corners.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus separates the grinding and polishing tools onto independent spindles, allowing transverse movement relative to the glass sheet advancement, eliminating the need for axial tool exchange movements and enabling simultaneous processing of multiple corners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the corner rounding tool unit moves along the axes of a Cartesian triple to follow the glass sheet, then circular interpolation can be performed for corner rounding, but the travel distance of the slide becomes excessively long, requiring glass sheets to be spaced apart and reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the corner rounding operation into two separate tool units: one for grinding and one for polishing. Each tool unit has its own spindle mounted on the slide, eliminating the need for axial movement to exchange tools. This segmentation allows both operations to be performed sequentially without extending the travel distance, thereby maintaining productivity while achieving precise corner rounding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spindle is lowered and raised to exchange grinding tools during the rounding process, then tool changes can be made, but the travel distance of the slide must be increased to allow time for tool exchange, requiring greater spacing between glass sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the grinding tool and polishing tool into two independent tool units, each with its own spindle. Both spindles are permanently mounted on the slide, eliminating the need for axial movement to exchange tools. The grinding tool unit performs the grinding operation, then the polishing tool unit performs the polishing operation, both within the same slide travel distance, thus eliminating the need to extend travel time for tool exchanges.
3Manufacturing precision
If the slide travel distance is lengthened to accommodate tool exchange and circular interpolation, then corner rounding can be performed, but glass sheets must be kept greatly spaced apart, reducing the number of sheets processed per unit time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the corner rounding function into two separate tool units (grinding and polishing) with independent spindles mounted on the slide. This allows both operations to be completed within a compact slide travel distance without requiring axial movement for tool exchange. Consequently, glass sheets can be processed in close proximity, maintaining high processing speed while achieving precise corner rounding.
4Adaptability or versatility
If axial movement of the spindle is required to exchange tools, then tool flexibility is maintained, but the control system must manage complex axial movements during the corner rounding process
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the grinding and polishing tools into two independent tool units, each with its own spindle permanently mounted on the slide. This eliminates the need for axial movement and complex control of tool exchange during the corner rounding process. The control system only needs to manage the sequential activation and transverse movement of the two tool units, significantly reducing control complexity while maintaining tool flexibility.
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 configuration enhances processing efficiency by allowing closer spacing of glass sheets, reduces travel distance, and improves rigidity and quality while maintaining high productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a first tool unit with a spindle holding a diamond tool
Implementation Method 2
a second tool unit with a spindle holding a polishing tool
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An apparatus for rounding at least one corner defined between two adjoining side edges of a glass sheet that is made to advance in a processing zone along a direction of advancement, which comprises at least one pair of separate tool units that are arranged side by side in fixed positions along the direction of advancement of the glass sheet. The aforesaid pair of tool units is movable in a substantially transverse direction with respect to the direction of advancement of the glass sheet. Thanks to the invention, rounding of the corners of the glass sheet is performed without the need to raise and lower the spindle of the tool unit in order to exchange the grinding tools and without having to move the tool unit along the direction of advancement of the glass sheet in order to perform circular interpolation for the corner rounding operation.