Roller Cleaning for Glass Sheets via Liquid Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing glass sheet manufacturing processes face quality abnormalities due to fine particles adhering to rollers and cleaning pads when cleaning glass sheets of different sizes, leading to contamination or damage, as the non-contact portions of rollers and pads are prone to drying and particle adhesion.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the application of a second liquid to non-contact portions of rollers and cleaning pads during the cleaning process to prevent fine particle adhesion, ensuring that the first liquid adhering to the glass sheet effectively removes particles from these areas before switching to glass sheets with larger contact lengths, thereby preventing quality abnormalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If glass sheets of different sizes are cleaned using the same roller without modification, then the cleaning apparatus can handle multiple glass sheet sizes, but fine particles adhere to the non-contact portion of the roller causing quality abnormalities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to clean glass sheets of different sizesVSAvoidsurface quality of glass sheet

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The roller surface is segmented into contact portions and non-contact portions. The cleaning liquid supply is selectively directed to the non-contact portions to prevent particle adhesion, while the contact portions continue their normal cleaning function. This segmentation allows the same roller to handle different glass sheet sizes without quality degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cleaning liquid acts as an intermediary substance that prevents fine particles from adhering to the non-contact portions of the roller. By supplying this liquid medium to specific areas, the system maintains surface quality without requiring physical modification of the roller or glass sheets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a dummy glass sheet is used to remove fine particles from rollers before cleaning large glass sheets, then quality abnormalities are prevented, but manufacturing efficiency is significantly degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface quality of glass sheetVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning system performs self-maintenance by automatically supplying cleaning liquid to the non-contact portions of the roller during normal operation. This eliminates the need for separate dummy glass sheet steps or manual intervention, maintaining both quality and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning liquid supply to non-contact portions occurs continuously during the normal cleaning process, rather than requiring interruptive dummy sheet steps. This maintains uninterrupted production flow while preventing particle adhesion, thus preserving manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If the non-contact portion of the roller is kept dry to prevent particle adhesion, then cleaning efficiency is maintained, but fine particles firmly adhere to the surface causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcontamination from fine particles

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the roller receive different treatments: contact portions operate with normal drying for efficient cleaning, while non-contact portions receive cleaning liquid supply to prevent particle adhesion. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between drying efficiency and particle prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 efficiently prevents quality abnormalities on glass sheets by ensuring that fine particles are washed away from non-contact areas, reducing the risk of contamination or damage during the cleaning process, and maintains manufacturing efficiency by eliminating the need for a dummy glass sheet to remove particles.

Implementation Method 1

fine particles can be washed away by a flow of water such as cleaning liquid having been absorbed from the glass sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWashing/Fluid flow removal:

Implementation Method 2

a first liquid adhering to a surface of the glass sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS11459271B2Method for producing glass plate

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 NIPPON ELECTRIC GLASS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a method of manufacturing a glass sheet including a step of bringing a glass sheet (G1, G2) having a first liquid adhering to a surface into contact with a roller (5a, 5b). The glass sheet (G1, G2) includes: a first glass sheet (G1); and a second glass sheet (G2) having a contact length with the roller (5a, 5b) which is larger than that of the first glass sheet (G1). The step of bringing the glass sheet (G1, G2) into contact with the roller (5a, 5b) includes a liquid supplying step of, at the time of bringing the first glass sheet (G1) into contact with the roller (5a, 5b), applying a second liquid to a non-contact portion of the roller (5a, 5b) which is prevented from being brought into contact with the first glass sheet (G1).