Curved-Corner Glass Panel Thermal Chamfering After Tempering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for forming glass panels with curved corners involve additional processes like etching, leading to reduced efficiency and increased costs, and they do not adequately address edge protection and mechanical rigidity issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving thermal chamfering of the glass panel's outer surface and corners using a heating rod after tempering, which forms a rounded shape without additional processes like etching, and includes tempering and healing processes to enhance brittleness and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If etching process is performed to form rounded edge portions, then the edge effect and outer shock rate are minimized, but the overall process efficiency is reduced and manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical etching process with a thermal processing method. A heating rod is used to apply localized heat to the glass panel's edge portions, causing thermal expansion and forming rounded shapes through mechanical thermal action rather than chemical dissolution. This substitution eliminates the need for etching solutions and additional processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameter from chemical concentration (etching solution) to thermal energy (heating temperature and duration). By controlling the temperature and time parameters of thermal treatment, the glass edge portions are transformed into rounded shapes without requiring chemical etching processes, thereby improving process efficiency while maintaining edge protection.
2Reliability
If etching process is performed to form rounded edge portions, then the edge effect and outer shock rate are minimized, but the manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical etching process with a thermal processing method. A heating rod is used to apply localized heat to the glass panel's edge portions, causing thermal expansion and forming rounded shapes through mechanical thermal action rather than chemical dissolution. This substitution eliminates the need for etching solutions and additional processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal processing method allows the glass panel to undergo self-transformation through controlled heating. The glass structure itself responds to thermal energy by expanding and reshaping its edge portions, eliminating the need for external chemical agents and reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Productivity
If thermal chamfering is performed after tempering, then curved corner portions are formed efficiently, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs tempering treatment before thermal chamfering. By pre-tempering the glass panel to enhance its mechanical strength and brittleness, the subsequent thermal processing step becomes more effective and requires less intensive treatment. This preliminary action enables the formation of curved corners with fewer and simpler processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the tempering and thermal chamfering processes into an integrated workflow. The heating rod performs both functions: it first applies thermal energy to temper the glass surface and then uses the same thermal action to chamfer and round the corner portions. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate processing steps while maintaining effectiveness.
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 method efficiently forms glass panels with curved corners, reduces manufacturing costs, prevents damage during cutting, and enhances mechanical rigidity while maintaining strength and surface smoothness.
Implementation Method 1
performing a thermal chamfering process by using a processing member such as a heating rod
Implementation Method 2
the corner portion of the glass panel is rounded by utilizing a conventional process
Implementation Method 3
a first tempered layer is formed on a first surface of the glass panel and/or a second surface opposite to the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed are a glass panel and a method for forming a glass panel having a curved corner portion. More particularly, proposed are a method for forming a glass panel having a corner portion with a rounded shape or a D-cut shape and the glass panel formed by the method. The corner portion with the rounded shape or the D-cut shape is formed by thermally chamfering an outer surface portion and the corner portion of the glass panel by using a processing member such as a heating rod after the glass panel is tempered before or after cutting the glass panel from a mother glass.