Glass Plate Separating Apparatus Thermal Stress Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass plate separating apparatuses face issues with cullet generation when using mechanical cutters and durability problems with laser systems due to vibration sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A glass plate separating apparatus that forms a start point flaw on the glass ribbon and uses a combination of tensile thermal stress and bending moment to divide the glass ribbon without forming a scoring line, employing a heater and holding members to generate stress and a discharger to separate the glass plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a mechanical cutter is used as the scoring device, then the glass ribbon can be divided, but cullet is generated and adheres to the surface of the glass ribbon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cutter with a laser light emitting element that forms a scoring line through optical energy rather than mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates cullet generation while maintaining the ability to divide the glass ribbon, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and parameters of the glass ribbon by applying laser energy to create a scoring line. The laser heats and modifies the glass structure along the intended division line, enabling clean separation without mechanical contact, thus eliminating cullet while preserving manufacturability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a light emitting element that emits laser light is used as the scoring device, then no cullet is generated, but the light emitting element has durability problems due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a bending moment to the glass ribbon before the laser forms the scoring line. This preliminary mechanical action creates tension that guides the crack propagation along the scoring line, allowing the laser to work more efficiently and reducing the stress and vibration exposure on the light emitting element, thereby improving its durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a combination of static bending moment application and dynamic laser scanning to create the scoring line. The glass ribbon is held in a bent state during the scoring process, which stabilizes the structure and reduces vibration impact on the laser element, enhancing reliability while maintaining the cullet-free advantage.
3Productivity
If a scoring line is formed on the glass ribbon, then the glass ribbon can be divided, but the glass plate cannot be clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting with laser-based scoring, which creates a clean separation line without generating cullet or surface contamination. This substitution maintains high productivity through efficient laser scanning while eliminating surface contamination, resolving the contradiction between separation efficiency and cleanliness.
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
Enables clean glass plate separation without scoring lines, improves durability by avoiding mechanical cutters, and allows for high-speed glass plate production with reduced risk of chipping or cracks.
Implementation Method 1
by bringing the heater into contact with the second main surface of the glass ribbon, a tensile thermal stress is generated on the first main surface owing to a temperature difference between the second main surface and the first main surface
Implementation Method 2
by pressing the heater onto the glass ribbon between the pair of holding members, a bending moment is caused to act on the glass ribbon
Implementation Method 3
a tensile stress derived from the bending moment is combined with the tensile thermal stress. Consequently, a crack progresses along the division-planned line from the start point flaw formed in the first main surface, and the glass ribbon is divided
Data Source
AI summary
A glass plate separating apparatus, as one example, includes: a trigger device that forms a start point flaw in a first main surface of a glass ribbon on a division-planned line; a pair of holding members disposed at the first main surface side of the glass ribbon; and a heater disposed at a second main surface side of the glass ribbon. The pair of holding members, each of which extends parallel to the division-planned line, is brought into contact with the glass ribbon at both sides of the division-planned line while being lowered together with the glass ribbon. The heater extends along the division-planned line, and is brought into contact with and pressed onto the glass ribbon on the division-planned line while being lowered together with the glass ribbon.