Glass Defect Detection and Optimized Cutting Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing glass manufacturing methods face challenges in minimizing quality-related losses due to gaps between tolerance limits and customer-specified quality standards, leading to non-quality losses or defects in glass sheets.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that involve detecting defects in glass ribbons before cutting, generating a map of glass attributes including defect positions and severity criteria, and using a computer system to create an optimized cutting layout based on this information, allowing customers to access relevant data for efficient cutting procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If glass sheets are cut according to standard tolerance limits, then manufacturing process is simple, but quality-related losses increase due to gaps between tolerance limits and customer standards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting process simplicityVSAvoidglass rejection rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary defect detection and mapping on glass ribbons before cutting into sheets. Defect information is stored in a database and made accessible to customers who can then plan cutting layouts in advance to avoid defects, reducing glass rejection while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a feedback mechanism where defect data from glass ribbons is captured, stored, and provided back to customers. This feedback enables customers to optimize cutting layouts based on actual defect locations, resolving the contradiction between simple cutting processes and quality losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If comprehensive defect information is provided to customers, then cutting optimization improves, but information security and data management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoiddatabase access system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary database access mechanism that provides defect information to customers in a controlled manner. The database stores comprehensive defect data and allows customers to retrieve information needed for cutting optimization without exposing the entire system, balancing productivity improvement with manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing direct access to the entire defect management system, the invention creates simplified copies or representations of defect information that customers can use for cutting layout optimization. This reduces the complexity burden on customers while maintaining cutting efficiency benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2926303B1Method and system for identifying defects in glass
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 SAINT GOBAIN VITRAGE SA
  • EP2926303B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2926303B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2926303B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A method and system for identifying defects in glass are provided. The method includes identifying, using an identifier device, each of a plurality of sheets of glass with an identifier; generating, using a mapping device, a map of glass attributes for each of the plurality of sheets of glass; associating, using a computer system, the map of attributes of each of the plurality of sheets of glass with the identifier of a corresponding each of the plurality of sheets of glass; storing the map of glass attributes of each of the sheets of glass in a database; and providing a customer with a level of access to information in the database so as to allow the customer to retrieve at least part of the map of attributes of sheets of glass acquired by the customer.