Glass Cutting via Localized Heating and Elastic Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass substrate cutting methods face issues with surface property deterioration, productivity decrease, and increased complexity due to microcracks and inefficient thermal stress propagation, particularly when cutting thin glass sheets, which results in inaccurate cutting and reduced thermal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method involving localized heating and cooling along a preset cutting line, where the glass sheet is supported from the back surface by an elastic sheet with low thermal conductivity, allowing for effective heat insulation and enhanced thermal efficiency, enabling precise and efficient full-body cutting of glass sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional scribe formation method with laser beam irradiation and coolant is used, then cutting can be achieved, but microcracks are generated in the cut end surface resulting in deterioration of surface property
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful cooling step from the conventional laser scribing process. By performing only localized heating without subsequent coolant application, the method avoids the thermal shock that causes microcracks while still achieving effective cutting through controlled heating and natural cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical snapping process with thermal field-based cutting. By using localized heating to create thermal stress and propagate cracks through the glass substrate, the method eliminates the need for mechanical breaking that causes surface damage and microcracks
2Productivity
If conventional snapping method with scribe formation is used, then glass substrate can be separated, but the process becomes troublesome and apparatus becomes complicated leading to decrease in productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the unnecessary cooling step and mechanical snapping operation from the conventional process. By using only localized heating to initiate and propagate cracks through the glass substrate, the method simplifies the apparatus and accelerates the cutting process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the scribe formation and breaking steps into a single localized heating operation. The thermal stress generated by focused heating automatically propagates cracks through the substrate, combining multiple conventional steps into one efficient process
3Use of energy by moving object
If glass sheet is directly supported on support member during cutting, then stable support is achieved, but heat transfer to support member reduces thermal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an elastic sheet as an intermediary layer between the glass sheet and the support member. This elastic sheet has low thermal conductivity, preventing heat transfer to the support member while maintaining mechanical support and stability during the localized heating cutting process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible elastic sheet as the support interface. This thin film provides the necessary mechanical support for the glass sheet while its material properties (low thermal conductivity and elasticity) prevent heat transfer and accommodate thermal expansion during cutting
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 ensures accurate cutting along the preset line, enhances thermal efficiency, and increases productivity by minimizing heat transfer to the support member, thus improving the quality and handling of glass sheets, especially for thin substrates.
Implementation Method 1
the glass sheet is supported by a support member from a back surface side through an intermediation of an elastic sheet having low thermal conductivity
Implementation Method 2
propagating the initial crack while passing through the glass sheet from a front surface to the back surface thereof due to a stress generated through localized heating along the preset cutting line
Data Source
AI summary
A full body of a glass sheet (G) is cut by forming an initial crack (6a) on a preset cutting line (5) of the glass sheet (G) that is supported by a support member (2 (8)) from a back surface side of the glass sheet (G), followed by propagating the initial crack (6a) while passing through the glass sheet from a front surface to the back surface thereof due to a stress generated through localized heating along the preset cutting line (5) and cooling of a heated region that is formed through the localized heating, the glass sheet (G) being supported by the support member (2 (8)) from the back surface side through an intermediation of an elastic sheet (E) having low thermal conductivity.