Two-Material Heat Chamfering Support for Glass Edge Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing edge finishing technologies for glass panels, particularly thin glass panels, fail to provide reliable edge strength and bending performance due to damage from edge defects, which are not effectively addressed by existing heat chamfering methods.
Innovation Solution
A heat chamfering apparatus with a support unit having a contact support portion and a base portion, where the contact support portion is made of a material with lower thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, and hardness than the base portion, allowing for thermal shock-induced chamfering without causing particles or distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-material support unit is used for heat chamfering, then the structure is simple, but the glass panel experiences thermal shock distortion and particle generation due to high thermal conductivity and hardness
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit is divided into two distinct portions: a contact support portion made of a first material with low thermal conductivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and low hardness; and a base portion made of a second material with high thermal conductivity and high hardness. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are selected for different portions of the support unit based on local requirements. The contact support portion requires low thermal conductivity and low hardness to minimize thermal shock and prevent glass damage, while the base portion requires high thermal conductivity for efficient heating and high hardness for structural stability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If high thermal conductivity material is used in the contact support portion, then heating efficiency is improved, but thermal shock causes glass panel damage and particle generation
Solution Approach 1:
The contact support portion acts as an intermediary between the base portion (heat source) and the glass panel. It has low thermal conductivity to buffer the thermal shock, preventing direct transmission of extreme heat to the glass while still allowing sufficient heat transfer for chamfering. This intermediary role protects the glass panel from thermal damage.
3Strength
If high hardness material is used in the contact support portion, then structural strength is improved, but the glass panel surface is damaged causing particles
Solution Approach 1:
The contact support portion is specifically designed with low hardness material to match the softness requirement for gentle glass contact, while the base portion maintains high hardness for overall structural strength. This local differentiation ensures the glass-contacting surface is soft enough to prevent scratching and particle generation.
4Ease of manufacture
If high coefficient of thermal expansion material is used in the contact support portion, then material availability is improved, but thermal expansion causes support unit distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The material selection focuses on changing the coefficient of thermal expansion parameter to be low in the contact support portion. This parameter change ensures dimensional stability during heat chamfering, preventing distortion of the support unit and maintaining precise contact with the glass panel edge.
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
The apparatus achieves reliable and accurate heat chamfering, improving edge strength and bending performance while minimizing process time and defects, ensuring efficient and precise edge finishing.
Implementation Method 1
The first material has lower thermal conductivity... compared to the second material
Implementation Method 2
a lower coefficient of thermal expansion... compared to the second material
Implementation Method 3
heat-chamfering an edge of the glass panel by applying thermal shock thereto
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A heat chamfering apparatus. A support unit supports a glass panel. A heat chamfering unit heat-chamfers an edge of the glass panel by applying thermal shock thereto. The support unit includes a contact support portion supporting the glass panel while in contact with the glass panel and a base portion configured to support the contact support portion. The contact support portion is formed from a first material. The base portion is formed from a second material. The first material has a smaller change in temperature due to lower thermal conductivity and a smaller change in size at high temperature due to a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion while being more ductile due to lower hardness, compared to the second material. In a heat chamfering method, a glass panel is located on a support unit, and an edge of the glass panel is heat-chamfered by applying thermal shock thereto.